Soccer Without Borders

Oakland

Serving newcomer youth in the East Bay since 2007

SWB Oakland in Action

“I have noticed, over and over, that students who enroll in SWB are able to create new connections sooner and in a healthier way than students who are not. They can bond over something that a lot of them feel they are good at, a specially treasured feeling when one is in the midst of immigrating, when everything feels unfamiliar and nothing feels easy."

Laia P., OUSD Mental Health Intern Supervisor

About SWB Oakland

Two high school boys in green Capelli jerseys run towards each other for a high five.

Through in-school, after-school, weekend, and summer programs, Soccer Without Borders Oakland is a crucial resource to newcomer refugee and immigrant youth across Alameda County, CA. As leaders in social inclusion and getting girls in the game, and as active participants in the Bay Area sports-based youth development community, SWB Oakland also hosts free, intentional leagues where under resourced youth from other organizations can play. SWB Oakland also leads trainings for coaches to build more equitable program spaces for youth.

Learn even more:

>> Read the 2022 Oakland Hub Report

>> Meet the SWB Oakland team

>> Inquire about volunteering

>> Contact us

Featured Initiatives

SWB Oakland by the Numbers

Most Recent Year

A group of Oakland high school girls huddle together for an opening cheer.

Overview

965

youth served

in lastest program year

42%

of coaching staff

are program alumni

37

participant countries of origin

(and 29 languages spoken)

8

league seasons and tournaments consisting of 665 participants

+30%

higher graduation rate amongst participants than OUSD as a whole

>4,000

miles of transportation provided for participants

Spotlights

Coach Ye-Htet speaks in front of a group of people.

Spotlight: Ye-Htet Soe, Program Manager

Ye-Htet Soe embodies the spirit of SWB Oakland. After his family resettled in Oakland from a refugee camp in Thailand, Ye-Htet found community and connection through soccer. He began volunteering with SWB as an 11th grader at the annual newcomer community summer camp. Since then, he has held almost every role within SWB; from camp counselor, to assistant coach to program coordinator. Now as Program Manager, Ye-Htet is one of the organizational leaders, not just in Oakland, but across SWB. After graduating from high school, Ye-Htet played collegiate soccer at Southern New Hampshire University, and completed his bachelors degree there. Ye-Htet is a mentor to countless youth in Oakland, and inspires everyone with his growth mindset and his commitment to inclusivity and community.

Spotlight: Heykee R.
Participant

Shortly after Heykee came to the U.S. from Honduras, she joined the Soccer Without Borders program at Castlemont High School in 2020 as a freshman. She hadn’t met a single person at school because she started during COVID-19 restrictions and joined the team to make friends. Over the next two years, Heykee has been one of the consistent members of her team, and has learned much from her coaches and teammates. “Without soccer, I would be a girl more timid, more scared, less confident,” Heykee says. “Before I didn’t have an idea of what I wanted to do in my life. I was always making bad decisions and involved in problems. When I started playing on the team, I became a more mature person and I started thinking about the type of person I want to be in the future.”

SWB participant Heykee sits and smiles at the camera.

SWB Oakland Partners

Building a more inclusive world requires a shared purpose and a collaborative approach. Our partners and supporters enable us to provide programming to youth free-of-cost, while also providing complementary services to youth and families when their needs fall outside of our scope.