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With councilmember’s support, Soccer Without Borders and World Relief are teaming up to host the 1st Annual Kent Immigrant and Refugee Community Soccer Camp
Kent, WA – From August 13-17th, Soccer Without Borders (SWB) and World Relief are hosting a soccer camp for nearly 100 newly arrived immigrant and refugee youth in Kent, WA. The week-long day camp was made possible with the support of King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, who helped to mobilize a Get Active / Stay Active Grant from King County Parks and Recreation.
"This soccer camp represents an amazing investment in the Kent immigrant & refugee community," said the Councilmember. "I was excited to see Soccer Without Borders creating these athletic and English language opportunities for youth."
Youth participants are boys and girls, 1st-12th graders and are largely clients of World Relief, one of the area’s largest refugee resettlement agencies. They will spend camp days honing their soccer skills, playing small-sided tournament games and participating in off-team team building and arts workshops. This content will be led by Soccer Without Borders coaches and is designed to maximize opportunities for youth to practice English, support youth to forge friendships across cultures and have fun, being active in a safe environment. Many of these same skills will support youth as they transition back to school or enroll in local schools for the first time ever later this month.
Supporting all these activities is a group of over 20 volunteers from throughout King County, many of whom have spent the summer collecting hundreds of pieces of soccer equipment to outfit youth throughout the camp.
About World Relief
World Relief Seattle is a 501(c)3 organization that envisions every refugee and immigrant welcomed by community, rooted in community, and empowered for community. As the largest refugee resettlement organization in Western Washington, World Relief welcomed 921 refugees and asylees from 25 countries to the greater Seattle area in 2017. World Relief Seattle helps newcomers achieve stability through casework, English classes, and employment services. It also invests in the local immigrant community through youth empowerment, legal services, resiliency spaces, and advocacy. World Relief has been serving refugees and immigrants in the Seattle area since 1979. More information can be found at worldreliefseattle.org.
About Soccer Without Borders Seattle
Soccer Without Borders is a 501(c)(3) organization that uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing newcomer immigrant, refugee and asylee youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. The recipient of the 2017 FIFA Diversity Award, SWB directly serves over 2,000 youth annually through a year-round, team-based model. Through soccer, education, and community-building activities, SWB youth advance academically, develop personally, build social capital, make healthy choices, and gain English language skills. Soccer Without Borders Seattle launched in October 2017 and currently runs summer programs in Kent and a year-round program based out of the Seattle World School. More information can be found at soccerwithoutborders.org/seattle.
Press Contacts:
Soccer Without Borders
Lindsey Whitford
lindsey@soccerwithoutborders.org
206-569-4904
World Relief
Scott Ellis
sellis@wr.org
253-228-4613