Check out the camp description or apply to volunteer!

The program was started by Jill Pardini, a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University, who is an avid soccer player and had been working closely with the Refugee Community in Baltimore City for some time. Recognizing the need for consistent, quality youth-focused programming, Jill took the initiative to open a new branch of SWB to work alongside the wonderful organizations listed above already serving the refugee community. 42 youth have signed up, with practices drawing at least 30 members so far. The program, now in its pilot stage, seeks to expand and become a year-round program. 

Later this summer, the members of SWB Baltimore City will have the chance to watch Manchester City take on Inter Milan when they come to town. We look forward to providing updates and pictures soon!

On Sunday July 11th, SWB is holding a series of fundraisers during the FIFA World Cup Final between Spain and the Netherlands. Called Make the Finals Count, supportive bars and cafes in the following locations are generously contributing part of the days profits to support Soccer Without Borders programming for under served youth. Come out and join us if you are in the area at the following locations:

Boulder, CO: Ruebens Burger Bistro

Portland, OR: Beaulahland

Boston, MA: Caffe Paradiso

Washington, D.C.: Stoney's Bar and Grill

Washington, D.C.: James Hobans

Bethlehem, PA: Starters Riverport Bar and Grill

We would like to extend a special thank you to all the hosts for their generous support!

Bar Bambino Honors Father's Day with a Soccer Day June 20^th
Enjoy a Special South African menu prepared by Chef Lizzie Binder in honor of her heritage and the World Cup 2010

Proceeds to Benefit Soccer Without Borders

San Francisco, CA, June 15, 2010 - This coming Sunday, Bar Bambino Café & Wine Bar commemorates dads with a special 4-course dinner menu inspired by both the favorite national pastime of Italy in keeping with the restaurant's focus, as well as the classic cuisine of Chef Lizzie Binder, whose native South Africa is the site of the World Cup this year, all to benefit Soccer Without Borders.  

Departing from the regional Italian menu for which Bar Bambino has become well-known and loved, Chef Binder stirs the childhood memory pot with a menu that accents the French, Dutch and Indian influences that came together to shape South African cuisine.   Dishes that demonstrate this influence will be on the menu such as Cape Malay curry, a house-made curry served with lamb or vegetables and sambals (sambals are the sweet, savory, and pickled accompaniments that are stirred into the curry to the eater's taste) and saffron rice or, yogurt cucumber soup with a cilantro mint swirl, or warm apricot malva (similar to a bread pudding) with brandy caramel sauce. "My earliest memories are of my father butchering game in our kitchen. I was fascinated and hooked from day one.  From an early age I cooked side-by-side with my Mum and Dad; I have so many strong memories of delicious dinners around my family table.  It was difficult to cull a menu of only of few of those inspirations into a menu for this special dinner. I'm so excited to cook this food for the extended Bar Bambino family," says Binder.

Bar Bambino owner Christopher Losa has a soft spot in his heart for soccer, having grown up in Germany as a military brat.   For him, Germany was soccer and soccer was Germany and he closely identified with the sport while also sub-consciously assimilating the European sensibility for seasons, regionality of food, and the focus of European life around the table that became a reality when he opened Bar Bambino to great critical acclaim three years ago. Together with Chef Binder, Losa takes a studious, curious and deliberate approach to authentically representing Italian cuisine.  "While Europe holds a soft spot in my heart for its culture, gastronomy, and viniculture, I'm excited to use this opportunity to expose more people to South African cuisine. My experiences with the country and its cuisine are memorable for its fascinating assimilation of Eastern, Western, and distinctly African flavors. It is a true fusion cuisine dating back to the 1700‘s. To combine this with an opportunity to support Soccer Without Borders is a bonus.  As a young soccer player I learned discipline, focus, and the power of teamwork. I hope we can play a small role in advancing Soccer Without Borders' mission to bring these attributes to less advantaged children everywhere."

Sunday, June 20th's menu is served from 5-10 PM and offers a departure and a chance for Chef Binder to share a cuisine little known to most people.   It will be four courses (starter, salad, main and a dessert), which is $55 per person or an additional $35 with wine pairings selected by Losa.  The wine pairings will be international in scope to pay tribute to the diversity of the teams playing; they will include Slovenian and Austrian white wines and Italian, French and Spanish red wines. 

On June 5th and 6th, Soccer Without Borders teamed up with San Francisco/Oakland Chapter of the International Rescue Committee to host the Bay Area Refugee World Cup at Fremont High School in Oakland.  8 Teams participated: 3 from Burma, 2 from Bhutan, 1 from Iraq, 1 from Ethiopia and 1 from Eritrea. The 6 vs. 6 tournament took place one week before the star of the FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa.

Many of the players have witnessed immense trauma in their lives. Ali, a refugee from Iraq, was injured in a bomb explosion and fled to Jordan for safety and medical treatment.  Resettled by the IRC in the Bay Area in 2008, Ali is an avid soccer player, and was the captain of the Iraqi team.  Dawit, an Eritrean refugee, witnessed the atrocities of war in his own country before making the difficult decision to leave. What followed was an odyssey that took him to Ethiopia, Dubai, Cuba, and Colombia, before being granted asylum in the United States.

Jason Katz of the US State Department recently produced the 26 minute film, "Goal! Soccer For A Better Future". The film tells the story of how six NGOs use the spirit of athletics to engage and empower disadvantaged youth in Brazil, South Africa and the United States. Soccer Without Borders work in Oakland with students from Oakland International High School was highlighted in the film. The film examines athletes challenges in their communities and explores the game of soccer as an effective tool in life skills training. Thematic segments include respect, tolerance, diversity, gender equality, teamwork and opportunity. The full version will be released just in time for the world cup!

On Thursday May 20th and Friday May 21st, Team Up For Youth will host the Game Plan for Girls' Sports: Igniting a Practice of Change in downtown San Francisco. SWB founder Ben Gucciardi will participate as a panelist on the "Men Coaching Girls" session, and SWB staff look forward to learning from the other sessions through out the week. 

This two day summit will begin with an award reception on the evening of May 20th. Jackie Joyner-Kersee, winner of 6 Olympic medals in 4 consecutive Olympics will receive Team-Up for Youth's First Ladies in Sports Award.  This award honors Joyner-Kersee's endless trail-blazing for women and girls and continual inspiration for girls to reach their highest potential against all odds.  Learn more here.