Soccer Without Borders - Baltimore, MD, USA

Baltimore City, MD, USA

Baltimore City, MD is an SWB core program

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Program Background:

Various state, local, and non-profit agencies that serve the growing population of resettled refugees in Baltimore City identified the need for positive recreational programming for the refugee youth in the area. In response, SWB Baltimore City emerged to provide opportunities for recently arrived refugee to play soccer, encouraging healthy living while developing English language abilities and cross-cultural skills The student-athletes that make up the program have been recently resettled to Baltimore City from a variety of countries including but not limited to Cameroon, Eritrea, Somalia, Rwanda, DRC, Congo, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Iraq, Bhutan, and Nepal. While the students come from diverse backgrounds they share a passion to play the game and a genuine curiosity to engage with their new surroundings. Few of these young men have ever played organized soccer, had their own equipment, or proper coaching. It is the goal of SWB to provide such opportunities to this committed group while providing them a safe space that allows them to be part of a team and integrate to their new surroundings.

Program Description:

SWB has been active in Baltimore City since the Fall of 2009. Currently there are two SWB Baltimore City teams, U14 boys and U16 boys who are all refugees or political asylees. Both teams compete in the Central Maryland Soccer Association (CMSA) league, playing in both the fall and spring seasons. During the season SWB Baltimore trains twice weekly on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at a middle school near the apartment complexes where five of the refugee communities (Iraqi, Congolese, Eritrean, Nepali, and Bhutanese) have been resettled and plays on the weekends. During the week there are two mandatory tutoring/homework sessions for every participant. In addition to regular programming special events including workshops, college visits and team outings to watch professional soccer games are open to all participants.

Program Partners:

The ASSOCIATED: Jewish Community

Baltimore Blast

Baltimore City Community College

Baltimore City Public School System

Baltimore Resettlement Center

Goodnow Community Center

Goucher College: UMOJA Club

International Rescue Committee

Maryland Office for Refugees and Asylees (MORA)

Morton and Sophia Macht Foundation

Open Society Institute Baltimore