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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 celebrate a very special moment in the growth of Soccer Without Borders in Nicaragua. We began in 2008 with many dreams. We had a dream of a program just for girls. We dreamed of forming teams, and raising the level of girls' soccer in Granada. We dreamed of an open, strong, and equal collaboration between people from the USA and Nicaragua. We dreamed of providing sports equipment to all the girls in the program, and to the soccer community at large. We dreamed of raising the level of coaching, in a way that not only focused on soccer, but also on youth development. We dreamed about having a safe and central field, where the girls could practice and improve their skills. We dreamed of a safe space off the field, where the girls could grow, learn, try new things, and feel valued. We dreamed of providing opportunities for schooling, an education program that includes school scholarships, uniforms, and supplies. We dreamed of helping the growth of women's soccer across the country. We dreamed of a large scale two-way exchange between Nicaragua and the USA. We celebrate these dreams that we have already realized, with the help of everyone in this room, and many more who have believed in SWB. For these things, I want to especially recognize Eden, Hassell, Fatima, Helen, and Estefan, our SWB coaches and leaders, for their hard work. As always, we have many dreams, now and for the future. But today a big dream comes true: the dream of having Nicaraguan Program Directors. I could not imagine two better people to guide the program in this next phase. César has worked with SWB since its beginning. He came to our very first coaching course in 2008. Veronica has also been a part of SWB since the first year. She came to the very first practice in multi-estadio and coached in practices after that. Over time, both grew in the program and outside of it, finishing their university studies, César in accounting and Veronica in psychology. With every step of the program, they invested more and more, with a greater vision for the future. Personally, I believe that the way a person plays soccer reflects their personality and values off the field. As a player, César has so much talento, with superior field vision, a deep understanding of the game, the respect of his teammates, and a style that is inclusive of everyone. As a player, Veronica has a huge presence, always controlling the defense and communicating/leading her teammates. She plays with strength and fairness, and always gives 100 percent. With these values at the helm, I have all the confidence in the world in their leadership. It is with much respect, emotion, and friendship, that I officially announce the two new co-directors of Soccer Without Borders Granada, Veronica Balladares and César Morales. ----- Bienvenidos a todos y gracias por venir! Primero, me gustaria decir gracias a Hotel Con Corazon por el espacio bonito, y su ayuda con esta celebración! Hoy estamos celebrando un momento especial en el crecimiento del programa Fútbol Sin Fronteras. Empezamos en 2008 con muchos sueños. Tuvimos un sueño para crear un programa solo para chicas. Tuvimos un sueño para formar equipos, y levantar el nivel de fútbol femenino en Granada. Tuvimos un sueño para realizar una colaboración abierto, fuerte, y igual entre las personas de los EEUU y Nicaragua. Tuvimos un sueño para proveer materiales deportivos a las chicas, y tambien a la comunidad de fútbol. Tuvimos un sueño para levantar el nivel de entrenamiento, en una manera que no solo enfoca en fútbol, pero también en el desarollo de la juventud. Tuvimos un sueño por un campo seguro y central, en que las chicas pueden mejorar sus habilidades. Tuvimos un sueño para un espacio seguro, a fuera del campo, en que las chicas pueden crecer, aprender, intenta nuevas cosas, y sentir valiosas. Tuvimos un sueño para proveer oportunidades en la escuela, un programa de becas, uniformes, y materiales escolares. Tuvimos un sueño para ayudar en el crecimiento de fútbol femenino en todo el pais. Tuvimos un sueño para un intercambio más grande entre los EEUU y Nicaragua. Celebramos que ya realizamos estas cosas, con la ayuda de todos las personas aqui en este cuarto, y tambien muchas mas, que crean en FSF. Por estas cosas, me gustaria reconocer especialmente Eden, Fatima, Hassell, Helen, y Estefan, nuestros entrenadores y líderes, por su trabajo duro. Como siempre, tenemos muchos sueños más. Pero hoy, realizamos un grande sueño para tener directores Nicaraguenses. No podia imaginar dos personas mejores para guiar el programa el esta fase nueva. César ha trabajado con FSF desde el principio; el vino a nuestro primero curso de entrenamiento. Veronica tambien era una parte de FSF desde el primer año. Vino a la primera practica en multiestadio, y ayudo como entrenadora con practicas despues. Los dos crecieron en el programa y a fuera, terminaron sus careras: César como contador y Veronica como psicologa. Con cada paso del programa, ellos trabajaron con más animo, y más visión para el futuro. Yo creo que la manera de un jugador de fútbol refleja a su personalidad y valores en su vida tambien. Como jugador, César tiene bastante talento, con un visión del campo, alto conocimiento de juego, el respeto de sus compañeros, y un estylo que incluye a todos. Como jugadora, Veronica tiene una presencia grande, siempre controla la defensa y se comunica mucho con sus compañeras. Ella juega fuerte, justo, y siempre da 100%. Con estos valores, tengo todo el confianza de mundo en su liderazgo. Es con mucho respeto, emoción, y amistad que yo anuncio oficialmente los dos nuevos codirectores de FSF Granada, Veronica Balladares y César Morales. #Granada #Nicaragua #International

The best kinds of partnerships are those that support one another to reach new heights, deepening impact and expanding reach. With that in mind, we are thrilled to continue our partnership with Positive Tracks to keep growing the Ambassador Program. Positive Tracks is a national, youth-centric nonprofit that helps Generation Next get active and give back using the power of sport. The Positive Tracks program plugs into charitable athletic events to double dollars and amplify awareness generated by ages 23 and under. The Ambassador Program provides the perfect platform for these young supporters and fans of SWB to get active in their home communities, rallying support and awareness for SWB programs across the U.S. and around the world. Last year, Positive Tracks initiated a $25,000 matching challenge grant to the Ambassador Program. Over the course of 12 months, 40 Ambassadors from 11 different states invested 1390 hours playing, coaching, and sweating for change, crushing the challenge grant by raising more than $30,000 for SWB programs! From community clinics, to spring break camps, to small-sided tournaments, half marathons, concerts, game days, we stand in awe of the passion, energy, and creativity with which our Ambassadors approached this challenge. We look forward to another standout year of partnership with Positive Tracks in 2015, with a goal of expanding to 50 Ambassadors and hitting the $40,000 mark, a new milestone for the program. YOU CAN HELP! If you are under 23 and want to become an Ambassador, check out the page and fill out the short interest form. If you believe, as we do, that our Ambassadors can reach the $40,000 mark and are interested in joining Positive Tracks as a funding partner to increase the challenge grant funds, contact Mary McVeigh (mary@soccerwithoutborders.org). Many thanks to all of our 2014 Ambassadors and those who are already playing, coaching, and sweating for change in 2015. A big shout out to Positive Tracks for inspiring more than 21,000 young people to get active and give back to their charity partners. We are proud to be a part of such an inspired community of charity partners and look forward to the year ahead. About Soccer Without Borders: Soccer Without Borders uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the U.S. and abroad. Its year-round programs take a whole-person approach to youth development through sport, providing underserved youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion and personal success. In its nine years, SWB has led programs in nine countries on four continents, with an emphasis and expertise in serving newcomer refugee, asylee, and immigrant youth as well as engaging girls. Please visit: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo Contact: Mary McVeigh, Executive Director and Co-Founder, mary@soccerwithoutborders.org, 857-264-0097 About Positive Tracks Positive Tracks plugs into charitable athletic efforts to double dollars and amplify awareness generated by ages 23 and under. Best news is: Every dollar raised by youth and matched by Positive Tracks goes to our charity partners to benefit the people and places they serve. The end result sees youth of all demographics mobilized to move and empowered to give back: starting with themselves, starting in their own backyards. Please visit: Promo, Facebook, Twitter Contact Founder: Nini Meyer, nmeyer@positivetracks.org, 603-252-9233 #partner #ambassadors

It is with great pride that we announce the promotion of longtime coaches and program leaders Veronica Balladares and Cesar Morales to Co-Directors. Veronica Balladares was one of our five original coaches in 2008, bringing a wealth of expertise and support for our girls as a professional Psychologist. One of the most well-respected female players in Granada, Veronica was a mainstay defender and captain of the Granada premier team during its time in the Premier Division. Veronica has completed several SWB coaching courses, and this Spring received her FIFA youth coaching certification. Until now, she had worked with SWB part-time as coach of Team Sweet Lake while holding a full-time job with the Ministry of Health. We are ecstatic that she now joins SWB in a full-time capacity. Already, she was selected to participate in the streetfootballworld-led State Department Exchange between the U.S., Nicaragua, and Colombia, and will continue to serve as the SWB representative to the streetfootballworld network in Latin America. Cesar Morales has been a part of the program since the very beginning, attending our first-ever coaches clinic in 2008. A well-known figure in the soccer community in Granada, he is team captain and center midfielder in the local men's league for his team FC Carillera. Cesar has coached the program's Mariposa Senior team for 4 years, and in 2014 became the Education Program Coordinator and Bookkeeper. He holds a college degree in accounting, and is a certified "contador" in Granada. In addition to his extensive administrative and financial skills, he is nearly fluent in English and continues to invest in professional development through participation in leadership courses, a U.S. State Department SportsUnited Exhange, and most recently the SWB Program Leaders' Retreat in Boston. For 7 years, SWB Granada has been a collaboration between the USA and Nicaragua, creating opportunities for girls on the field and off, including pathways to educational advancement. As someone who was there from the beginning, each year has brought challenges, successes, failures, and endless learning (Read more on this in our recent Huffington Post piece: "An Untold Story: Learning to Fail Forward"). This transition of leadership to local Nicaraguan Directors marks an incredible milestone and new challenge for the collaboration. Cesar and Veronica are up for the challenge, and have already hit the ground running, leading a busy January schedule and preparing for the new school year in which SWB will have 28 secondary school scholarship recipients. Read more about the official celebration in Granada, January 31.

By: Kara McMahon The 18 campers touched down in Managua, Nicaragua on January 10, 2015. From university students to university professors hailing from 3 different countries and over 8 different schools, the campers drove through the colorful streets of Granada to the large “Tres Pisos” headquarters of Fútbol Sin Fronteras. Dropping off their piles of donated bags, they had little idea what fun awaited them over the following days. Piñatas, musical chairs, long practices, and a game against the Women’s Nicaraguan National Soccer Team account for only a few of the memorable activities of T.E.A.M. University Camp 2015. Keep reading to learn more about our special activities of Campamento 2015: La Villa As part of FSF’s expansion efforts to reach other girls in Granada, the campers took part in practices in La Villa, a neighborhood to the north of our regular Multi-Estadio practices. On the first day of practice, only three girls appeared at the Villa field. By the second day, however, there were five. And by the final day of camp, over eleven girls were practicing their dribbling and passing skills! Through working at La Villa, our campers were able to see the challenges and rewards of starting a youth program in a new area. FSF is very thankful for the campers’ help in making the new girls feel welcome and excited about soccer! Multi-Estadio Practices and Activities FSF girls filled the Multi-Estadio Field from the first day of camp to the last. Over eighty girls participated each day, ranging from age 7-17. The campers and FSF coaches led activities designed for all ages. Each day after camp, the girls walked hand-in-hand back with the campers to Tres Pisos for an afternoon of activities. Piñatas, dance parties, and musical chairs brought the campers and girls together despite any language barriers. The week of practices and activities gave our campers an idea of what FSF does year-round for girls in Granada. Sport and Development Talk with Professor Jenny Lind Withycombe The FSF T.E.A.M. Camp had the great fortune to welcome Professor Jenny Lind Withycombe to Granada. Withycombe is a Professor at the University of Colorado Boulder and will be teaching a class on sport for development in 2015. To supplement Campamento 2015, Withycombe delivered a presentation to campers regarding the growing field of sport for development and the importance of using sport for good. For many campers on our trip, this presentation framed their week with FSF with a larger goal in mind – to use sport for positive social development domestically and abroad. Playing Against the National Team! On Friday, January 16, the female university volunteers played against La Selección de Nicaragua, the Nicaraguan Women’s National Team, in the Estadio Nacional (National Stadium) in Managua. Thanks to the support of Activyst, Fútbol Sin Fronteras bussed over 80 of our FSF participants and a few of their parents to the game. After ninety minutes of grueling but exciting play in the heat, the game ended in a 0-0 tie. Our volunteers played excellently against fierce national-level competition! FSF is thankful for the participation of the United States Embassy in Nicaragua for sending two representatives to the game as well as the support of FENIFUT (National Nicaraguan Soccer Federation) for making the game a reality for our campers. These activities were exciting and valuable experiences for the campers. In the end, however, it was the smaller moments of the week: hugs from the girls, painted signs at the international friendly, and sad goodbyes at the end of their week that they will most remember from their time in Granada. We hope that our camp volunteers will stay in touch with FSF Granada regarding their upcoming soccer seasons and get involved with various SWB domestic sites! Thank you for all of your efforts at T.E.A.M. Camp 2015!

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 Festival that SWB Uganda has hosted to date, the event proved to be a powerful (and fun) way to unite so many youth in the community. This year’s festival was particularly special because it was the first major event that was entirely led and organized by local staff under the leadership of Program Director Olivier Matanda. Coordinating and drawing from the energy and experience of five volunteers from the U.S., local community members, and a Peace Corps volunteer, the staff did an outstanding job leading a successful event. The hard work of all staff and volunteers certainly paid off -- in the form of happy participants and newly formed friendships! Thank you to all who make the 2015 Kampala Youth Festival such a success! #International #Uganda

Originally published on the Huffington Post Impact Blog on January 17, 2015. Follow SWB on the Huffington Post! Granada field circa 2008 In February 2008, we held our first practice on a dirt field next to the chicken factory in Granada, Nicaragua. A herd of goats lazily wandered through, and the fact that the town's water had gone out coupled with the blazing heat made us wonder who would come. Cora would be one of them. Cora lived just on the other side of the field in a house with 13 other people. Raised by her extended family after her mother passed away, Cora spent her days as one of many mouths to feed; soccer with the neighborhood boys was her outlet, the nearby field her escape. That day, she wandered across the glass-covered dirt field in her flip-flops, kicking them off immediately to juggle with us. I passed her a pair of sneakers, more for my own peace of mind than hers. From that very first practice, it became clear that Cora's talent at the age of 15 far exceeded this backyard dirt field. Under the banner of a young Soccer Without Borders, we were not there to identify and develop talent. We were there to work with community leaders to build a safe space for all girls to learn and grow, on the field and off. While discovering Granada's first superstar was not on our agenda, here she was. And so our relationship with Cora began. In the coming months, we created the city's first girls-specific after-school program. The program grew quickly to meet the need and demand, adding off-field educational activities and an earned equipment system. Cora potential was top of mind with every decision. A year later, our hopes for Cora were realized: she was selected for the U-20 Nicaraguan Women's National team. Equipment support and a handful of coaching hours were no longer enough. She needed bus fare to and from the capital daily, and a hearty lunch before practice. She needed soap and detergent to accommodate the extra dirty clothes, and a tutor to help her balance her studies with the additional demands on her time. Most importantly, she needed someone to convince her family that this was a worthy use of her time, knowing that her absence at home meant that everyone else would carry a larger burden. Nevertheless, we pressed on, devoting at times more than a third of our limited human and financial resources to Cora. A volunteer rode the bus with her to Managua most days. Another met weekly with her school director. We were all on call for her family, who began to steal Cora's bus fare on days she was scheduled to travel solo. In the face of such need, using the money for sports was viewed as selfish; it had to be shared like everything else. There were good days and bad days. One evening, Cora fainted. We scooped her up and taxied to the free hospital. She wandered out an hour later with a torn scrap of paper in her hand with a single number on it. "This is my sugar level," she explained. That day began a series of futile doctor's visits and more scraps of paper, eventually leading to the worry that she shouldn't be playing soccer. But Cora was slated to travel with the national team for the first time, her first international travel. Her appearance for her country sent a ripple of pride through the program, and renewed our sense of purpose and commitment to helping Cora reach her potential. She returned home from the trip confident and proud, but also distant. She had changed. Cora began skipping school and practice, mysteriously disappearing for days at a time. We met with the school counselor weekly, and walked her to school in the morning. It wasn't enough. The level of psychological and emotional support she needed was beyond our capacity. I knew that there would be tough decisions on how to allocate limited resources in human service work. What I didn't expect was how emotional that decision could become as you weigh the needs of the real people behind it, and grapple with your ability to meet those needs. How do you choose one over another? How do you know when to let go? No matter what we tried, we couldn't bring Cora back into the fold. I visit Cora, and now her son, every time I am in Granada. We reminisce about her trip to El Salvador and the first day we met at that dirt field. She encourages all of the young girls in her neighborhood to join the program. She never asks for a thing, though I know she misses having a pair of cleats to call her own. I think about the program as it is today: year-round, safe and private facilities, a school uniform and scholarship program, a trained psychologist director, full-time coaches, close-knit teams, and family engagement. I wonder if now it would be enough. I could not be prouder of the girls in our program today, and the coaches who support them. These girls and coaches are truly "rompiendo fronteras"- breaking boundaries -- every day. They overcome obstacles so great that worrying about a bare foot on a glass-covered field seems silly. Yet while success keeps us pressing forward, it's failure, the girls we couldn't reach, the girls we couldn't keep, the Cora's, who inspire us to dig deeper, reflect harder, and never aim for anything less than our full potential.

#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. S. Department of State sports diplomacy exchange grant. Hosted by streetfootballworld USA (sfw), a global network, the exchange brings together leaders from 5 organizations- Tiempo de Juego (Colombia), Colombianitos (Colombia), Soccer in the Streets (USA), Starfinder (USA), Street Soccer USA, and Fútbol Sin Fronteras (Nicaragua)- for a learning tour. Each participating organization will host the others in their respective city, immersing the participants in their local programs and culture. The exchange is an exciting opportunity to empower young people as leaders, and build bridges of friendship and respect among diverse communities. The group will be in attendance at the National Team Game and learn about the relationship between FSF and FENIFUT, and the incredible growth of women’s soccer in Nicaragua in recent years, including the team’s silver medal and the Central American Games of 2013. The selected participants from Nicaragua are FSF Co-Director Veronica Balladares and Coach Fatima Lopez. Both women are former participants in the Nicaraguan Women’s Premier League, and Veronica holds a FIFA coaching certification facilitated by FENIFUT. Following the weekend’s events in Managua and Granada, the group will fly to Bogota, Colombia to visit Colombianitos and Tiempo de Juego. In addition to the organizational leaders in attendance at Friday’s game, girls from the FSF program in Granada will be also be in attendance. Entrance to the game is free; please join us in supporting your Nicaraguan Women’s National Team and Fútbol Sin Fronteras! For more information on the Exchange (in-country), please contact Kara McMahon at kara@soccerwithoutborders.org or 011-505-2552-5022 More about Soccer Without Borders: Soccer Without Borders is a 501c3 non-profit that runs year-round youth development programs in under-served areas in the USA and abroad. Soccer Without Borders’ mission is to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, and personal success. Fútbol Sin Fronteras Granada has reached more than 2,000 girls in the city of Granada during its seven years of programming, and serves 100 girls ages 7-19 six days per week, year round through soccer and educational opportunities. More about streetfootballworld: streetfootballworld is a worldwide network of organizations that use football (soccer) as a tool to empower disadvantaged people. By connecting with partners from sport, business, politics, and philanthropy, streetfootballworld brings global power to local initiatives. As a global network, streetfootballworld has offices in Berlin, Cape Town, Rio de Janeiro, and New York City. More about the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Division: The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs’ SportsUnited Division leads the U.S. Department of State’s international exchange efforts to bring the global community together through sports. Under its SportsUnited: International Sports Programming Initiative, public and private U.S. based non-profit organizations may submit proposals to address one of three themes: Sport for Social Change, Sport and Disability, and Sport and Health. Since 2002, the division has awarded 104 grants to U.S. non-profits to conduct programs in 62 countries around the world. #international #Granada #Nicaragua

Check out SWB Greeley's Fall 2014 Newsletter for a peek into what they've been up to this fall, and a look at what's ahead!

We are very excited to welcome two new Directors to the governing board of Soccer Without Borders. Ryan Hawke first connected with SWB as a participant in Small Goals, Big Change New York 2010, through her NYC women's team, the Central Park Rangers. As the Vice President of Under the Influence Productions, Ryan has gained vast experience in project development and management, as well as a critical eye for quality and opportunities for growth. Prior to Under the Influence, Ryan worked in business development at the Doe Fund, and served as a program coordinator at the Everett Foundation. Ryan currently lives in Brooklyn, NY with her husband, writer/actor/director Ethan Hawke and their four children. Her passion and commitment to SWB will be a tremendous asset to the board in 2015. John O'Brien has been an invaluable member of the SWB family for the last 6 years, taking on a variety of different roles after retiring from professional soccer. During his playing years, John excelled at the international level, appearing for the United States in two World Cups and competing for the renowned Dutch club AJAX. A member of the U.S. Soccer Athlete Council, John has given back to the game in innumerable ways, including his incredible commitment to SWB. Now pursuing his Psy.D in Clinical Psychology at Alliant International University, John lives with his wife Amy in the Bay Area. As an SWB Ambassador, Advisory Board member, and a Program Director, John has contributed to every aspect of SWB's development and growth, and we could not be more excited for John to now join the Board of Directors. Please join us in welcoming John and Ryan! #leadership

By: Kara McMahon “Girls have the power to change the world.” With these words, team leader Margot commenced the 2014 International Day of the Girl at Fútbol Sin Fronteras Granada. Speaking to over 100 girls across all five FSF teams, Margot explained that the Day celebrates and teaches that girls do not have to wait until adulthood to start making positive change in their communities: girls can make change every day. Citing Malala Yousafzai, young global champion of girls’ education and 2014 Nobel Peace Prize Co-Winner as an example of how girls can change the world, Margot invited the girls to think about their unique capabilities and potential as young female and athletic leaders in Granada. Since 2012, the United Nations has commemorated October 11 as the International Day of the Girl Child to promote girls’ rights and promote worldwide gender equality. The UN theme for 2014 was Empowering Adolescent Girls: Ending the Cycle of Violence and recognizing the unique challenges that girls face all around the world. FSF celebrated the Day of the Girl this year with a series of activities on and off the field, focusing on team building, girls’ rights, the importance of education, as well as ending the cycle of violence. On Saturday, October 11, all FSF teams gathered at the Multi-Estadio field for a day of games – wheelbarrow races, jump rope competitions, and an intense version of dodgeball. Girls from youngest to oldest teams worked together in each game as members of Sweet Lake and the Estrellas helped the Maripositas and Princesas accomplish each task. On Tuesday, October 14, the coaches led stations in the FSF Office, Tres Pisos, to reflect on the importance of the Day of the Girl. Activities included a conversation about the “Rights of the Girl” that asked the girls to design their own rights, as well as a powerpoint presentation on global women leaders such as Malala. Coaches asked girls how they could implement these lessons in their everyday interactions. The week ended with a workshop for the older FSF teams led by Ixchen, a Granada-based women’s center. In fitting with the 2014 Day of the Girl theme, “Ending the Cycle of Violence,” representatives from Ixchen discussed preventing violence in romantic relationships and let them know what helpful resources are available in Granada should a dangerous situation arise in their lives. The messages of the FSF Week of the Girl gave the girls hope for better education, an end to violence against girls, and opportunities to step up as leaders now, both on and off the field.

National champion Sam Mewis knows what it means to play it forward. "Soccer has played such a huge role in my life; giving the opportunity for other girls to have an experience similar to mine is inspiring." In the spring of this year, the UCLA women’s soccer captain looked ahead to the fall season and pondered ways to leverage her team’s first national championship as a way to give back. Learning about the Soccer Without Borders Ambassador Program presented by Positive Tracks, she found her platform. On top of training for her final season as a UCLA Bruin, Sam spent the summer and fall planning a game day and youth clinic to raise funds and awareness for SWB. Coordinating a large scale event is no small feat. Challenges of NCAA compliance and athletic department marketing protocols might have been a reason to give up, but it was immediately apparent that Sam's determination and commitment on the field was equally prevalent off. "Realizing how much I actually cared about the charity- as I explained repeatedly why we were taking part in this, I realized that I cared so much and wanted to help really badly. I learned that I have the capacity to actually go through with an event like this that started from nothing," she reflected. The end result was nothing short of amazing. On October 5th, UCLA Women’s soccer played for change against the University of Colorado, sporting SWB shirts during warm-ups, spreading the word through PA announcements, and raising funds through t-shirt sales. But it didn't end there. After scoring the game winning goal, Mewis and her teammates remained on the field after the game to lead a free skills clinic for kids in elementary and middle school from the surrounding area. Their efforts truly embodied the spirit of the Title IX legacy: where women opened the door for the opportunity to play a Division I collegiate sport, these student-athletes paid it forward, helping girls globally gain the right and opportunity to play. Mewis and her teammates' efforts were featured by Soccer Nation, the Boston Globe, and on Mewis' very own blog, Mew's Views. While their success on the field is impressive, SWB and Positive Tracks are so grateful and proud of the Bruin ladies for all the amazing work they are doing off the field, too. They are modeling how to truly "get active and give back" locally and globally, raising $2,800 for SWB, which will be doubled by Positive Tracks. Congratulations to Sam Mewis and the UCLA women’s soccer team and we wish you all the best in your final five games on the road! #ambassadors #positivetracks #supporter #leadership