The last six weeks have hurdled women's soccer into the spotlight in a big way. Messages of support and enthusiasm have been juxtaposed with the sinking feelings of disappointment in media coverage and an inability to convert widespread interest into revenue streams that will close the wage and opportunity gaps. For Soccer Without Borders, this spotlight has created a platform to share our stories and highlight the obstacles that stand in the way of girls' inclusion in spor

Many thanks to AOL for featuring Soccer Without Borders today in its "Make a Difference" block! AOL donates this homepage space each day to organizations making a difference around the country and world. Check out the AOL feature Soccer Without Borders is getting girls in the game! #soccer #usa #International

Two generations of Nicaraguan women took their seats in the Fútbol Sin Fronteras (FSF- Soccer Without Borders) activity center Tres Pisos. Mothers and daughters sat facing new pink and light-blue backpacks filled with materials necessary for a successful year of studying: school uniforms, shoes, notebooks, rulers, and pencils. Greeted by new co-directors Cesar and Veronica, FSF had chosen their 28 daughters as recipients of these backpacks as well as free tuition for a year o

Originally published on the Huffington Post Impact Blog, April 17, 2015. Follow SWB on the Huffington Post! During one of my early trips with Soccer Without Borders (SWB), we scheduled a coaching clinic on the island of Ometepe, otherwise known as a "volcano island." As luck would have it, that same week the volcano began to show signs of erupting. A native New-Englander, my only experience with volcanoes had been my summer as a player in Iceland, where I lived in a town that

SWB Executive Director Mary McVeigh with FENIFUT President Jose Jacinto Reyes Gatica An indestructible soccer ball that requires no pump? Eyebrows immediately raised in disbelief. This was the reaction at the Nicaraguan Futbol Federation (FENIFUT) when SWB Codirectors Cesar and Veronica mentioned that they came bearing a donation of One World Futbols for the Federation. Many countries, schools, federations, clubs, and communities find themselves facing a similar challenge: fi

On Saturday, January 31, we celebrated a momentus occasion in the evolution of SWB Nicaragua: the transition to local Nicaraguan Directors. I feel fortunate to have been able to attend in person, and wanted to share this speech from Saturday's event (español abajo): Welcome and thank you all for coming! I am so grateful to be here and for this moment. First, I'd like to thank Hotel Con Corazon for this beautiful space, and for their help with this celebration. Today, we cele

From January 12-16, Soccer Without Borders Uganda hosted the 4th Annual Kampala Youth Festival. The theme of this year’s festival was “Empowerment through Equality (Education).” Each day, more than 300 youth joined together to participate in discussions, games, and soccer play all centered around the theme. The excitement to play and learn was nearly tangible, especially as every day included a dance party at the beginning and end of all activities! The largest Youth Festiv

#Granada #international #Nicaragua

Official press release: This Friday, January 16 at 3pm in the National Stadium in Managua, the Nicaraguan Women’s National Football Team will compete against a team of American college soccer players representing Soccer Without Borders, or Fútbol Sin Fronteras (“FSF”). The game marks the 6th year that FSF and FENIFUT will come together for a friendly match to raise awareness and support for girls’ soccer in Nicaragua. This year, the game will be held in conjunction with a U.

By Mary McVeigh - Program Director The Brazil games have all wrapped up, the trophy has been awarded, and players are headed home. There has been much talk surrounding the legacy of this World Cup and other mega events, and their impact on the communities and nations in which they are hosted. That discussion is both warranted and complicated, but for Soccer Without Borders Nicaragua one of the most powerful legacies of this World Cup lies in the hearts, minds, and abilities o

Today, June 20, 2014 is World Refugee Day. World Refugee Day was established by the United Nations to honor the men, women, and children who have been forced to flee their homes under threat of persecution, violence and conflict. Did you know? According to the UN, as of mid-2013 there were 11.1 million refugees globally, which includes 600,000 additional refugees in the first half of 2013. There are currently about 262,000 refugees living in the U.S. today. More than 70% of S

By Cathlene Webster, Team Leader, SWB Nicaragua For those who are counting, there are less than fifty days left until the men's World Cup in Brazil. However, did you know that the U-17 Women's World Cup was just last month? Seven members of Futbol Sin Fronteras Granada have just returned from the celebration of this amazing event in San Jose, Costa Rica. SEPROJOVEN, an organization that uses soccer as a platform to combat gender-based violence and oppression in San Jose, team

What do former Lord Jeff players Allie Horwitz and Jill Kochanek and former Bantam player-turned-Assistant-Coach Leigh Howard have in common? In addition to being amazing soccer players and coaches, they all spent significant time as SWB coaches in Nicaragua. Inspired by the trio, the Amherst and Trinity women’s soccer teams rallied together to play for change in honor of SWB. They donned SWB t-shirts during pre-game warmups, sold merchandize throughout the game, and shared t