The 6 episode docuseries chronicles the inspiring journey of five refugee boys from Al Zaatari camp as they strive to become professional football players in Brazil. Over the course of three years, the series highlights the resilience and determination of Hafeth (“Marcelo”) (17), Omar (15), Qais (14), and Ahmad (17), capturing both their achievements and challenges along the way. Created by acclaimed filmmaker Bassel Ghandour, known for the Oscar-nominated film “Theeb,” and Executive Producer Hashem Sabbagh, the series features top-notch production from Katara Studios and comprehensive support from Generation Amazing. With their support, the series was fully funded to completion, with its sixth and final episode following the journey of the four refugee football players as they head to Doha, Qatar, for the FIFA World Cup 2022 and meet global football icons, including David Beckham, Xavi, and Ronaldo.
“At Generation Amazing, we believe in the transformative power of football to change lives and create opportunities. Our sponsorship and support of ‘Chasing Dreams’ and the journey of these young men underscores GA’s commitment to leveraging sport as a tool for unity, social cohesion, and empowerment among youth from underprivileged communities,” commented Nasser Al-Khori, Executive Director of Generation Amazing Foundation. “While an uplifting story of hope and resilience, “Chasing Dreams,” sheds light on the plight of refugees and encourages more organizations and partners to create pathways for young people from these communities.” “Working on Chasing Dreams was a five-year journey that spanned continents. Through it all, we built a deep, genuine bond with these young boys and captured their coming-of-age story against a unique backdrop. Football, with its power to unite people, became the lens through which we witnessed their ambitions, triumphs, and the challenges they faced as they navigated life,” commented Ghandour and Sabbagh.
“At a time when Western media continues to perpetuate age-old, one-dimensional stereotypes of Arabs, this series serves as a vital reminder: we are humans, full of love, joy, ambition, and resilience. We experience personal dramas, face obstacles, and overcome pain, just like everyone else. This story is a celebration of Arab youth’s strength, an exploration of coming of age as refugees in foreign lands, and a testament to their unwavering determination to rise above every challenge.”
Katara Studios, known for its expertise in producing high-quality, impactful content, played a pivotal role in the creation and production of this critically acclaimed series, overseeing the technical and creative aspects from development to completion. Generation Amazing Foundation (GA), with its mission to empower underserved youth worldwide through football, has continued to support these young men, providing educational and professional opportunities to help them succeed on and off the field.