#refugees

Stories from
the Field

With year-round activities happening across our hubs in Nicaragua, Uganda, and the United States, there is no shortage of inspiring stories to share. Stay up to date with all of the latest news around Soccer Without Borders through our blog, newsletters, and social media.

Soccer without Borders

Mar 16, 2017

The Place for Sports in Development

"Before entering the MDP program, I spent four years working for a sport for development organization, Soccer Without Borders (SWB). My time there allowed me to learn about non-profit management, communications, grant writing, program coordination, coaching for inclusion, and the distinct challenges that the communities in which I worked faced. My time in the MDP has allowed me to zoom out and more deeply consider the role that sport can play in development. SWB uses the spor

Soccer without Borders

Feb 21, 2017

New Short Film: SWB Kampala, Uganda

In 2016, Soccer Without Borders was selected as the Shoot Europe charitable project through a partnership with Global Giving UK. Produced and photographed by Tim Marsella, this short film uses a mix of still photos and video to tell the story of our work with refugees in Kampala, Uganda. Thank you to Shoot Europe for lending your time and talents to Soccer Without Borders! Check out more imagery from this project here. Watch at the link above or click here>>> #Kampala #Uganda

Soccer without Borders

Dec 14, 2016

FILM RELEASE: Playing for Change

In celebration of our 10th anniversary, now coming to a close, Soccer Without Borders worked with Smooth Feather Productions to create this short film about our work in the USA. A huge shoutout to Director Silas Hagerty, Producer Ryan Hawke, Narrator Ethan Hawke, and the stars of the show: Hel Say, Abednego, Angel, Fatuma, and Bushra. At this point in our global history, it is urgent that we find solutions to bridge perceived divides, the kind of bridges we see every day in o

Shoot Europe Launches Charitable Program With SWB Uganda

Soccer without Borders

Dec 8, 2016

Shoot Europe Launches Charitable Program With SWB Uganda

Soccer Without Borders Uganda was proud to be selected as the 2016 charitable project for Shoot Europe, through a mutual partnership with Global Giving UK. Below is an excerpt from their announcement and reflection on the project. Read the full piece here. From the Shoot Europe web release: "2016 has been an exciting year for us. We spent the first half of the year travelling all over Europe producing shoots, and then we went on an unexpected journey a little further afield…

Soccer without Borders

Nov 29, 2016

Choices

This reflection piece comes from Leila Milani, a member of the Soccer Without Borders Board of Directors. Leila is currently a Senior International Policy Advisor at Futures Without Violence, and a mother of two soccer players who have both been Ambassadors for SWB, including Nabil pictured below on the SWB Culture Exchange to Nicaragua . She reflects below on her experience coming to America in the late 70s from Iran. In the fall of 1978 the Iranian Revolution propelled the

An Open Letter To SWB Participants and Families

Soccer without Borders

Nov 11, 2016

An Open Letter To SWB Participants and Families

Together as a staff and Soccer Without Borders community, we want to say this to each and every one of you, and we hope that you hear us: We see you, we care about you, and we're so glad you're here. The Soccer Without Borders community includes people who come from every walk of life, every corner of the globe. Many in our community have been displaced, and have been rebuilding their lives in their new cities and countries for a very short time. Our community includes people

Celebrating 10 Years of Playing for Change

Soccer without Borders

Oct 24, 2016

Celebrating 10 Years of Playing for Change

For the past 10 years, Soccer Without Borders has been fortunate to serve newcomer refugee, immigrant, and asylee youth across the United States, building a more inclusive and peaceful world through the sport of soccer. On October 27, Soccer Without Borders Oakland will be hosting a memorable 10 year anniversary celebration at the Impact Hub in Oakland, CA. The event will feature a new short film about our work with newcomer youth, directed by Silas Hagerty, produced by Ryan

Soccer without Borders

Sep 2, 2016

Soccer Without Borders Alumnus Speaks at DC Rally for Refugees

Pivot Zotamou and Soccer Without Borders are introduced at the 10:30 mark. He then performs an original rap at the 24 minute mark. #Refugees #Baltimore

Soccer without Borders

Aug 24, 2016

Soccer Without Borders Shortlisted for Beyond Sport Award

Each year, the Beyond Sport Awards supported by Comic Relief recognize "the standout work of organizations from across the globe who are using sport as a means to create positive social impact." This year's competition received over 250 entries from 55 countries in 64 different sports. The shortlist narrows the field to 42 organizations in 11 categories, from Best New Innovation, to Sport for Conflict Resolution, to Corporate Citizenship Campaign of the Year, and more. We are

Soccer without Borders

Aug 22, 2016

Refugees on the Playing Fields of America

Temperatures soared above 90 degrees at the Vanguard Collegiate Middle School soccer field in East Baltimore, but the heat did little to dampen the energetic pace of the young players. Reema Al Faheed, an ebullient 18-year-old, races down the pitch with obvious joy. She had spent most of her life in a displacement camp on the Iraqi-Syrian border. Born and raised in a refugee camp in Nepal, Kailash Rai, 13, is equally quick on his feet and just as enthusiastic. Stories like th

Soccer without Borders

Jun 20, 2016

#WithRefugees This World Refugee Day

According to new numbers released today by the United Nations for World Refugee Day, the world is now faced with the largest number of people ever displaced, 65.3 million. That is about the size of the United Kingdom or France, the world's 21st and 22nd largest countries. Put in context, 1 in every 113 people in the world is either a refugee, seeking asylum, or internally displaced. Refugees are not a singular group; there is great diversity of experiences, cultures, religion

SWB Featured in The Urban Soccer Initiative: Community Soccer Journal

Soccer without Borders

Apr 25, 2016

SWB Featured in The Urban Soccer Initiative: Community Soccer Journal

Soccer Without Borders was recently featured in the first-ever edition of the Urban Soccer Initiative's new Community Soccer Journal. The Urban Soccer Initiative (USI) got started as a group of soccer-loving friends who came together to repurpose their local community soccer field after it had been demolished following a nearby construction project. Following their success, the initiative expanded to help improve other fields across the country. This led to the formation of U

Soccer without Borders

Mar 31, 2016

What Youth Refugees Really Need

This post was originally published in The Culture-Ist in March 2016 after the author, Amber Dunlap, attended a roundtable about refugee resettlement and integration hosted by SWB Colorado. Below is an excerpt and link to the full feature. In October, I wrote an article about a non-profit organization serving the growing number of refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth in Greeley, CO called Soccer Without Borders. In the couple of months since that article was published, the con

SWB Uganda & the Football for Hope Adidas Exchange Programme

Soccer without Borders

Dec 4, 2015

SWB Uganda & the Football for Hope Adidas Exchange Programme

It was a tremendous pleasure for me to participate in the streetfootballworld Football for Hope Adidas Exchange Programme in Nairobi, Kenya from 2 to 6 November 2015. The event was focused on monitoring and evaluation, and during the conference, I presented about Soccer Without Borders Uganda. The other participants were surprised by the successful positive change that SWB has on the community, and the immediate social inclusion that refugee children experience when playing s

Soccer Program Helps Refugee Kids Fit In At School

Soccer without Borders

Oct 16, 2015

Soccer Program Helps Refugee Kids Fit In At School

SWB Baltimore was recently featured in an article in the National Journal, highlighting the role our program plays in helping newcomer youth adjust to life in the United States. With a 65% increase in refugee resettlement in Maryland over the last 10 years - the majority being in Baltimore - the need for programs specializing in tutoring, learning english, and building confidence in refugee youth is high. Read the full article here! #Baltimore #usa #refugee #refugees #immigra

Community building: SWB and Dartmouth team up for game and clinic

Soccer without Borders

Sep 17, 2015

Community building: SWB and Dartmouth team up for game and clinic

In today's busy world, it is a rare gift when families and communities come together as neighbors. As a Dartmouth Women's Soccer alumnae, I was honored to be welcomed back to the Upper Valley community on Sunday, and to have had Dartmouth's support in bringing people together under the banner of Soccer Without Borders. After an exciting match between Dartmouth and Vermont, over 80 youth participants from 8 different towns in New Hampshire and Vermont participated in a post-ga

Stories from the Field

Stories from
the Field