Sector
Opportunity
Country
United States

Success through Soccer

Project Partner: Utah Refugee Coalition
 

Project Updates

The Utah Refugee All Stars - Year 2

The inaugural season (2010) for the Utah Refugee All Stars was a tremendous success. The team started in the D-2 division of the Utah Soccer Association's men's league. At mid-season, they were promoted to the D-1 division. At the end of the season, they were promoted to the Premier Division (the top division in the league). The team spent the winter of 2010 preparing for the 2011 season. The Firebirds soccer club of Salt Lake generously donated the time of their Coaching Director (Ted Eck) and one of their coaches (Wes Robinson) to run tryouts. Wes then stayed on and coached the team thru a session of indoor soccer in the winter and through the first half of the 2011 outdoor season. Moving into the Premier Division has been a wake up call for the team. The competition is notably better, consisting of many ex-college players. Nonetheless, the team has responded to the challenge and is looking forward to a successful second half of the 2011 season. More importantly, the team has been successful in creating opportunities for the players. Some of the accomplishments: > Five of the players and coaches have earned their E level coaching license. The training was paid for by the Utah Refugee All Stars. > Three of the five individuals earning their E level license have gone on to earn their D level license. > William Toe (Liberia) and Sam Rogers (Sierra Leone) are now paid coaches for the local Firebirds FC youth club. > The amazing incoming Freshman students at Utah State University raised more than $3,000 for the team and invited us to meet Luma Mufleh, the inspiring coach of the Fugees whose story was told in the book Outcasts United. > Westminster College invited Henry Koroma (Sierra Leone) to compete in a national U23 tournament. > The SLC School District has given us the green light for a program developed by one of our players and his adoptive parents, Toni and Pastor Tom Sutliff. Adults volunteers will mentor students academically who are playing on local youth soccer teams. We are looking for volunteers! > Granite School District wants to develop a soccer program for girls as soon as we have the financial resources and volunteers to become a partner. > After one of our community meetings regarding the soccer team, one of the refugee leaders came up and asked "Soccer is great, but what about skiing?". Board member Becca Ely took on the challenge and took 16 refugee teenagers skiing for the first time in their lives. Soccer was the bridge to this opportunity. > One of our board members found and funded spots for two Iraqi boys on competitive youth teams and we are working on expanding opportunities for refugee youth to get involved in mainstream youth soccer. There are many challenges ahead, but the rewards have made it worthwhile. The team continues to need support - both financial and time - and we encourage folks who would like to get involved to contact us. The web page for the team is a bit clunky, but you can donate their and it has the basic contact info: www.utahrefugeeallstars.com (.org should work as well, but we're working out a technical problem at the moment) Thanks again for all your fantastic support.
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August 03, 2011
 

Project Description:

The Utah Refugee All Stars is a soccer team made up of a group of men from countires like Sudan, Iraq, and Sierra Leon. Each player has grown up playing soccer, even when they only had wadded up scraps for a soccer ball. Most were able to play soccer in refugee camps where they spent years, and in some cases, decades.  Some have even played in top ranked professional divisions in their countries.  The team was founded as a way to move the refugee players into mainstream soccer. The All Stars participate through the Utah Soccer Association, the primary organization for adult competitive soccer in Utah.

For team managers, the team provides more than just exercise. The team provides an opportunity for young refugee men to gain a foothold that can keep them from turning to gangs or crime. It gives opportunities to find an identity and experience success. The team also offers an outlet to those who have experienced hardships in war-stricken countries. In addition, the team serves as a vehicle for providing other services like tutoring and job networking.

The URC is attempting to raise funds to cover other costs associated with the team--referee fees, goal nets, flags, equipment, uniforms and tournament fees. Once the funds are raised the Utah Refugee All Stars can experience another successful season playing the universal game of soccer as they adjust to their new lives, become a part of their communities, and become advocates to other refugees.

 

Budget

Item Cost
Nets and flags (each team is required to supply these for games) $300.00
Uniforms for players $500.00
Equipment for players (shin guards, goalie gloves, socks - to assist players who cannot afford) $200.00
Total: $1,000.00
 

DRIPS Analysis

Demand [does it meet a real need?]

Soccer is one thing that refugees can do to experience success.  Refugees  arrive in the U.S. with little support and are faced with trying to succeed in a culture they know little about. One thing which many refugees are good at is soccer.  Soccer transcends mere sport and most refugees are passionate about it. The importance of having a well-supported team for the refugees to play on goes beyond just offering exercise.  The team can also be a vehicle for rebuilding self-esteem and a foothold to keep alienated young men from turning to gangs or crime to find a sense of self-worth.  In addition, we hope to groom the players on the team to become ambassadors for all refugees. The team can also serve as a vehicle for delivering other services to refugees - things like health education, tutoring, networking for jobs. We hope that the All Stars will also become a means to mentor younger refugees and offer them a path to remain involved in their community.

Readiness [can it move forward soon?]

The team is formed and has already played two games - both dominating victories.  The team has volunteer coaches and managers.  In addition, the URC has provided support to the team by helping them set up a website, obtain a loan for the fees to get started and soliciting funds for the team. URC is advising the All Stars to set up a non-profit corporation that can grow to be a large enough organization to field as many teams as may be necessary to allow all refugees who want to play soccer a place to play.

Impact [will it make a difference?]

The team has already had an impact.  The team held tryouts and over 100 players from across the entire spectrum of refugee groups tried out for the 26 open slots.  The team has been garnering attention in the press.If we can make this team work, it could serve as the kernel for reaching out to all of the approximately 30,000 refugees living in Utah, as a platform to educate Utahns about refugees and the challenges they face, to integrating the refugees into becoming productive citizens more quickly and to diverting young men from poor life choices.

Propriety [does it fit the context?]

Soccer is a common bond among refugees.  The team is going to face some serious hurdles, as it has players from Burma, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Somalia and many other origins. 

 

The financial viability of the team is being addressed by the URC assisting in providing tools for the players to use in fundraising.  Those tools include:

 

sign up sheets for the players to use when soliciting small donations from individuals
advertising materials
a team logo
setting up a website
securing a PayPal button on the team website
pictures from each of the games posted on Flickr
weekly newsletter to donors/supporters updating them on the team's success
access to individuals willing to donate time and services to support the team

 

With this kind of support behind them, we are confident that the team will find a way to survive and to thrive.

Sustainability [will it last?]

As mentioned above, the long term goal is to grow the team into a soccer club that supports as many teams as are necessary to allow all refugees an opportunity to play organized competitive soccer.  With the help of URC, the club will form its own Utah non-profit and, when ready, move out from under the umbrella of the URC and become it's own tax-exempt entity.  The team has the commitment of Bruce Granath, Lew Miller and Joe Nahas to serve as its initial board.  Bruce is an experienced businsessman and member of the board of the Salt Lake Education Foundation.  Lew Miller is an attorney and founder of URC.  Joe is a refugee capacity builder for the Refugee Services Office.

 
 

Meet the Team...

Lew Miller, President, Utah Refugee Coalition

Lew makes his living as a real estate attorney with Ward, Miller & Geyer (www.wmglaw.com), but his real passions in life are soccer and volunteering with refugees. In 2009, Lew helped create the Utah Refugee Coalition, a 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to assisting refugees living in Utah.

Bruce Granath, President, Utah Refugee Soccer

Bruce is a Salt Lake entrepreneur and dedicated community member. Bruce serves on the board of the Salt Lake Education Foundation and was the key person in creating the Utah Refugee All Stars soccer team.

Joe Nahas, Program Specialist - Refugee Services Office

Without Joe, the Utah Refugee All Stars would not exist. Joe is himself a refugee and works for the Utah Refugee Services Office. Joe took on the monumental task of convincing each of the many different refugee groups in Utah to support a team made up of refugees from a broad spectrum of countries and ethnicities.