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With #WelcomingWeek as a backdrop, we are pleased to release our 2016 Annual Report. This report celebrates 10 years of Soccer Without Borders programs, and looks at two of the major focus areas of our work in youth development and soccer for social change: supporting newcomer refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth, and advancing gender equality.
In 2016, Soccer Without Borders celebrated the milestone of our first decade. Our community stretches worldwide; our participants alone come from 60 different countries and speak more than 25 different languages. As we reflect on the meaning of ten years using soccer as a vehicle for positive change, we celebrate the diversity of our community and the shared passion that ties us together. The contributions of our dedicated partners, supporters, and friends have enabled us to provide holistic, year-round programs to under-served youth free of cost. Our dedicated staff works tirelessly to make our programs accessible and valuable to the young people who seek them, with remarkable results that you’ll find highlighted in this report.
In the face of a growing need, the world of sport has an essential role in building solutions. Soccer has a unique ability to shape communities and inspire individuals. It is our goal to see a day when gaps in accessibility, resources, and education cease to exist, so that all young people have equal opportunities and the pathways they need to reach their full potential. Toward that vision, we are committed to developing strategies to more fully meet the needs of the youth we serve, and to share theses solutions through expanded collaboration and transparency.
Thank you for playing for change with us, and for your continued support and encouragement in the decade ahead!
About Soccer Without Borders:
Soccer Without Borders, a 501(c)(3) non-profit that runs year-round youth development programs in under-served areas in the USA and abroad, Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change. Through five core activities and a powerful team environment, SWB programs provide youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion and personal success. We believe in the power of soccer, the world’s most popular sport and universal language, to create positive life changes. Since 2006, SWB has led programs and collaborations in eleven countries on five continents, and is best known for its work with newcomer refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth as well as engaging girls of all cultural backgrounds.
Contact: Mary McVeigh, mary@soccerwithoutborders.org, www.soccerwithoutborders.org