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Refugee Soccer

Connecting Refugees with the Mainstream community through soccer.

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Congo Nation

August 25, 2016 by adam
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Today is #WorldRefugeeDay. Never before has this d Today is #WorldRefugeeDay. Never before has this day had more significance than this year. ⁠ ⁠ We live in historic times. Last week the UNHCR @refugees confirmed the alarming and tragic number of displaced people in the world has now topped 100,000,000. ⁠ ⁠ These are our fellow humans; forced to seek refuge from the violence, hunger, and chaos in their homelands by taking brutal, often dangerous journeys that tragically not everyone survives. ⁠ ⁠ "But once a refugee has found safety, shelter, and food the next most vital need they have as a human is to belong."⁠ ⁠ We use soccer/football to try and create belonging in our communities everywhere. ⁠ ⁠ Our founder, @bridgesfounder, spoke passionately on this topic last weekend at @TEDxSaltLakeCity. We are pleased to share the text of his talk via the link in bio. (Video will be out in August 2022 and we will share then.)⁠ ⁠ Please read his words and consider what you can do to make not just this day but EVERY day better for a refugee, a fellow human without a homeland. It takes so little to do so much and the benefits touch everyone involved in making a simple "pass" of positive energy. ⁠ ⁠ Then please freely share with your communities.⁠ ⁠ Let's go!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #refugees #humanrights #socialgood #socialimpact #dogood⁠ #blackexcellence #blacklivesmatter #blackcommunity #juneteenth #giveaballchangealife #beautifulgame
Heading in to #WorldRefugeeDay Monday this is how Heading in to #WorldRefugeeDay Monday this is how we are spending the week here with the #refugee kids we feel so lucky to work with.⁠ ⁠ We have also been helping to register over a dozen kids playing for established clubs such as @larocafcofficial, @cottonwood_fc, @utahglorysoccer, @metasportfc, and others soon!⁠ ⁠ We have the best volunteers and love them almost as much as they love this work! Huge, ongoing thanks to @Alivthack, @pinkzebramullet, @losdawgcoolio for their huge hearts and selfless allocation of time and energy.⁠ ⁠ Come work with us! There's so much more work to do and we are GROWING. ⁠ ⁠ Check out the link in bio to choose how you want to get involved-never any pressure, work as little or as much as you want. ALWAYS fulfillment, love, and fun!⁠ ⁠ Let's GO!
Our founder, @bridgesfounder, did a podcast interv Our founder, @bridgesfounder, did a podcast interview from Poland/Ukraine last month with a soccer-focused podcast called Golazo With Carlos & Paul (@Golazowcp). It's a wide-ranging chat covering:⁠ ⁠ 1. The history of Refugee Soccer-from reuniting African families to connecting refugees and established kids through soccer around the world.⁠ 2. Our process of serving refugees through our PEC Model: PLAY | EQUIP | COMPETE.⁠ 3. Our international efforts from Ukraine to Nigeria and beyond.⁠ 4. The historical crisis of 100mm displaced people around the world and the simple things you can do to help.⁠ 5. Ways established communities can help refugees through soccer now.⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to listen to the podcast.
We had SUCH a great evening last week visiting thi We had SUCH a great evening last week visiting this gymnasium converted into a refugee shelter in Poland, just 30 minutes from the #Ukrainian border. This great #Polish organization, @unitatem_jednosc, runs multiple locations in the area with amazing volunteers and leaders. ⁠ ⁠ They all deserve high praise and gratitude for the way they have rallied so quickly and comprehensively to help hundreds of families displaced by the ongoing #UkrainianWar.⁠ ⁠ Refugee Soccer exists to help create hope and happiness through #soccer or (#football) with our fellow humans around the world, especially children, going through so much as #refugees.⁠ ⁠ Look at the beautiful kids who just loved getting these special #unpoppable balls signed by @RealSaltLake, @amysix, and @lizbogus. We are so grateful for furthering our mission here.⁠ ⁠ Also, look at how beautiful the countryside in Poland is! Almost as beautiful as the hearts and spirits of its people. 🇵🇱 🧡 ⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to join us on our next mission, to be announced shortly!⁠ ⁠ #ukrainecrisis #standwithukraine #giveaballchangealife #refugeeswelcome #mls #nwsl #usmnt #uswnt
🚨 TRYOUTS FOR LOCAL CLUBS 🚨 ⁠ ⁠ We are a 🚨 TRYOUTS FOR LOCAL CLUBS 🚨 ⁠ ⁠ We are a little late but not TOO late to be announcing that tryouts for established local clubs in Salt Lake City area are happening this week and NEXT.⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio for details and get in touch with us ASAP. We will help you find a club and deal with the registration process and fees, etc..⁠ ⁠ And if you want to play for a club but can't make the tryouts this quickly message us anyway and we will help you find a club as best we can to start playing this Summer and not the Fall.⁠ ⁠ Let's go! ⚽️ 🧡
It was incredible to drive four hours from Warsaw, It was incredible to drive four hours from Warsaw, Poland to the Ukrainian-Polish border in Medyka. It was both sobering and touching to cross the same border that refugees of all ages from #Ukraine are using to come to the beautiful country of #Poland where they are welcomed by warm-hearted and compassionate people, some who live there and some who’ve travelled great distances to show that as a human race we all #standwithukraine. Having the personal experience of the physical act of walking across the border from a country undergoing an invasion, standing in line for hours, and going through the understandably intense scrutiny of exhausted and tense border officials further reminded us of the struggle that refugees all around the world go through on a daily basis. It’s very clear that all refugees would much prefer the comfort and familiarity of being able to stay in their own home. (Anyone who thinks otherwise needs to cross a border with refugees fleeing their homeland.) People do not choose to be refugees. And we can all choose to offer refuge to those whose lives have been abruptly disrupted and changed forever by the acts of tyrants and despicable people everywhere. We are inspired by the selfless work of millions of individuals, some organized into humanitarian organizations and some just acting spontaneously and lovingly on their own, to continue to do what we can do through #soccer to send the message: #RefugeesWelcome. Let’s KEEP going. ⚽️ 🧡🇺🇦🇵🇱🌍
Greetings from #Warsaw, #Poland where the smiles o Greetings from #Warsaw, #Poland where the smiles on these kids' faces have kicked-off our mission to deliver hope and happiness through soccer to kids living as #refugees from #Ukraine!⁠ ⁠ Thanks to a beautiful, compelling report by @arishapiro at @npr (article link in bio) that JUST came out yesterday, this morning our founder visited two schools who are working with hundreds of #Ukrainian kids now living in Poland while the war rages on in their homeland. ⁠ ⁠ (The balls pictured will be used here at Public School 148, mentioned in the story, by ALL the Ukrainian and Polish students who are learning to study and play together despite the language challenges.)⁠ ⁠ Trauma. ⁠ Pain.⁠ Fear.⁠ Language differences. ⁠ ⁠ All of these intense emotions and experiences are very real for millions of innocent kids from Ukraine whose lives have been changed forever. And, in better news, so is the newly-created bonding and belonging made possible by these special #unpoppable balls autographed by some of soccer's greatest American women players (see tags) and donated by generous youth soccer clubs in the USA. In this case, these balls were donated by @utahsocceralliance1, a great new partner we just added.⁠ ⁠ Many more stories coming right up! Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #Utah #giveaballchangealife #girlsfootball #womenssoccer
This story, this man, this effort is just too spec This story, this man, this effort is just too special not to share. (Click the link in bio to watch the news piece.)⁠ ⁠ We are SO inspired and encouraged by the example of Chef Andrés and the tremendous team of humanitarians who join him everyday in the unsung work they do helping fellow humans get through life's toughest moments.⁠ ⁠ We, too, can't wait to be in #Ukraine this week "spending every single second trying to relieve people from those hard moments they are going through." ⚽️🧡 ⁠ ⁠ And, yes, in these worst moments of humanity we can't wait to see the best of humanity show up with us. In fact, in our preparations we already have. ❤️ 🙌 ⁠ ⁠ Lastly, we know we aren't special or uniquely capable of doing this work, but alongside all of our partners and epic supporters we are "stepping up to help: not next week, not tomorrow, but right now."⁠ ⁠ Let's GO!⁠ ⁠ #chefsforukraine #standwithukraine #giveaballchangealife #futbolislife #thebeautifulgame #refugeeswelcome #standupforukraine @onerepublic @ryantedder @cbsmornings @cbsnews
Ball Sponsorship Update!! ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ Local Utah businessman, venture capitalist, and humanitarian, Dinesh Patel through his family's foundation has sponsored an autographed ball from #RealSaltLake. THANK YOU!⁠ ⁠ BREAKING NEWS: WE WILL BE DELIVERING THIS BALL AND OTHERS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED IN TWO WEEKS TO KIDS IN #UKRAINE.⁠ ⁠ Wanna join our growing team of humans helping other humans who have lost nearly everything?⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT.⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife
ANOTHER Ball going to #Ukraine with us THIS month! ANOTHER Ball going to #Ukraine with us THIS month!⁠ ⁠ We are so grateful to Erika Tymrak of @NWSL team the Orlando Pride @orlpride for signing an #unpoppable ball for #refugees. ⁠ ⁠ And to Copper Mountain Soccer for joining the teams supporting our campaign as part of #UtahYouthSoccer by sponsoring the hand-delivery of one of her autographed balls. ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ There's still room for more #soccer clubs to join the team and send even more balls to these kids going through so much.⁠ ⁠ We invite YOU to join us NOW by clicking the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT.⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are filling up. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife #nwsl #mls #uswnt #usmnt
What a great weekend for us and the nearly 100 kid What a great weekend for us and the nearly 100 kids and supporters who attended the @RealSaltLake game and watched an exciting win against @LAGalaxy! 🌞 ⚽️ 🧡 ⁠ ⁠ Many thanks to Real Salt Lake for the tickets and the generous donors who helped buy meal vouchers so the kids could get a snack at the game. And to the drivers who shuttled the kiddos to and from the game. These smiles and memories are because of YOU! ⁠ ⁠ Let's go make more! Click link in bio to join us.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #usmnt #majorleaguesoccer #futball #futbolsoccer #instafutbol #footballnews #beautifulgame #footballmatch #soccerpitch #soccergame #usasoccer #soccermatch #footballisfamily⁠ #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #utah #rslfamily #oneutah
⚽️ 🙌 🧡 ⁠SOLD OUT!⁠ ⁠ With this lat ⚽️ 🙌 🧡 ⁠SOLD OUT!⁠ ⁠ With this latest ball sponsorship sealed by our Advisory Board the 2 autographed balls signed by smashing superstar Ashley Hatch are SOLD OUT!⁠ ⁠ Such a gritty champ with a huge heart! Go get 'em today against @olreign! ⁠ ⁠ With this latest sponsorship we are grateful to be SO close to raising enough funds to head to help kids in #Ukraine living as #refugees THIS MONTH!⁠ ⁠ Even though we sold out of Ashley's signed balls click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by other amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT. Just added balls from @realsaltlake and @abbywambach. They will go FAST. 💨 ⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ 📸: @dianaalia_
It never gets old! The smiles. The bonding. The so It never gets old! The smiles. The bonding. The soccer. ⚽️ ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ Yesterday was SO great as we did our thing with 15 kids from different backgrounds all over the world. The belonging that occurs almost instantly through #soccer is real and powerful.⁠ ⁠ You will have to ask our volunteers directly but we think they'll highly recommend anyone who wants to get out of their own world of stress, problems, and whatever for a minute just how therapeutic and refreshing it is to work with the kiddos we serve.⁠ ⁠ We have SO much coming for our little venture and we need YOU! Click the link in bio to apply to be a volunteer. We are easy, flexible, always grateful, and SWAG is coming. Get in here!⁠ ⁠ Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife #uswnt #soccermatch #sheplays #girlsfootball #womenssoccer @realsaltlake #rslcommunity #mls #usmnt
Thanks to Damir Kreilach (swipe left to see him) t Thanks to Damir Kreilach (swipe left to see him) there will be dozens of #refugees sitting in Kreilach's Corner this week!⁠ ⁠ URGENT! We are trying to provide $10 food vouchers for the kids. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation for any number of these vouchers so the kids can get a snack please message us immediately. You will get a tax receipt and many thanks from us and the kids. ❤️ ⚽️ ⁠ ⁠ Let's go #RSL!⁠ ⁠ Like this post if you think pro athletes should do more of this kind of giving back to the community 👍.⁠ ⁠ #futbol #lovefootball #soccerislife #MLS #realsaltlake #oneutah #utahisrad #rslcommunity #refugeeswelcome
Ball Sponsorship Update!! ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ We are so grateful to a very generous and anonymous fan for sponsoring the hand-delivery of TWO very special #unpoppable balls autographed by Ashley Hatch and Amy Rodriguez(swipe), both with strong #Utah ties. These balls are going to kids from #Ukraine and #Nigeria living as #refugees.⁠ ⁠ BREAKING NEWS: we have more balls available for sponsorship and when the next 10 balls are claimed we will announce the details of our first trip to visit Ukrainian kids NEXT MONTH! Yes, we are not waiting for all 100 to be sponsored before going!⁠ ⁠ We invite YOU (your club, your church, your team, your company, your family) to join us NOW to reach even more kids. ⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT. Just added balls from @realsaltlake and @abbywambach. They will go FAST. 💨 ⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife
BREAKING NEWS! RSL team signed a bunch of #unpoppa BREAKING NEWS! RSL team signed a bunch of #unpoppable balls for #refugees! ⚽️ ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ It started with one of RSL's leaders and awesome human, Justen Glad, helping get these 40 orange soccer balls into the locker room for autographs. Then, team members signed the balls for YOU to sponsor so that we can get them to kids from #Ukraine living as refugees next month! The balls are secure in duffel bags and ready to go!⁠ ⁠ Only NINE (9) more ball sponsorships and we can finalize initial plans to get on the ground in Poland/Ukraine. (Lots of moving parts right now but all is coming together nicely.)⁠ ⁠ Check out the campaign via the link in bio and let's go!⁠ ⁠ #oneutah #realsaltlake #rslfoundation #soccer⁠ #soccerislife #mls #futbol #utahisrad
Ball Sponsorship Update!! ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ We are so grateful to one of our oldest partner clubs, Cottonwood FC, for sponsoring the hand-delivery of this very special #unpoppable ball autographed by legend Nick Rimando of @RealSaltLake and @USMNT fame. This ball is going to kids from #Ukraine and #Nigeria living as #refugees.⁠ ⁠ BREAKING NEWS: we have more balls available for sponsorship and when the next 10 balls are claimed we will announce the details of our first trip to visit with Ukrainian kids NEXT MONTH! Yes, we are not waiting for all 100 to be sponsored before going!⁠ ⁠ We invite YOU (your club, your church, your team, your company, your family) to join us NOW to reach even more kids. ⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT. Just added balls from @realsaltlake and @abbywambach. They will go FAST. 💨 ⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife
Ball Sponsorship Update!! ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ We are so grateful to the growing designer brand, Americae, for sponsoring the hand-delivery of TWO very special #unpoppable balls autographed by fellow-Colombiana, Melissa Ortiz AND by Texan-born goalkeeper Abby Smith (swipe). These balls are going to kids from #Ukraine and #Nigeria living as #refugees.⁠ ⁠ BREAKING NEWS: we have more balls available for sponsorship and when the next 10 balls are claimed we will announce the details of our first trip to visit with Ukrainian kids NEXT MONTH! Yes, we are not waiting for all 100 to be sponsored before going!⁠ ⁠ We invite YOU (your club, your church, your team, your company, your family) to join us NOW to reach even more kids. ⁠ ⁠ Click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT. Just added balls from @realsaltlake and @abbywambach. They will go FAST. 💨 ⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife
Cheering on @realsaltlake tonight with this great Cheering on @realsaltlake tonight with this great group of humans. Let’s gooooo RSL! #refugeeswelcome #utahisrad #beautifulgame Tix 🙏🏼 @larocafcofficial 📸 @bridgesfounder
You gotta love this one!! ⚽️ 🙌 ❤️ ⁠ ⁠ We are so grateful to Salt Lake City FC for sponsoring the hand-delivery of this very special #unpoppable ball autographed by Utah's own beloved goalkeeper, Nick Rimando, for kids from #Ukraine and #Nigeria living as #refugees.⁠ ⁠ We still have more balls and invite YOU (your club, your church, your team, your company, your family) to join us NOW to reach even more kids. Click the link in bio to sponsor a ball signed by amazing pro players from the #USWNT #NWSL #MLS #USMNT.⁠ ⁠ Time is short. Kids are waiting. Duffle bags are ready. Let's go!⁠ ⁠ #kyiv #ukrainians #ukrainian #refugeeswelcome #refugeecrisis #refugeestories #refugee #futbol #soccerislife #socialgood #giveback #utahisrad #utahgram #slc #saltlakecity #giveaballchangealife #oneutah #realsaltlake
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