Dear Friends,
With the summer months nearly upon us, we'd like to welcome the sunshine by sharing some of the highlights from SWB programs this Spring. SWB youth, interns, and staff have invested hundreds of hours on and off the field in tournaments, leagues, workshops, and camps; check out some of the highlights below! A special thanks to the US Embassy in Managua and the International Rescue Committee in New York City for collaborating with SWB to put together truly unique cross-cultural events. Additionally, we'd like to welcome home our nine long-term interns, who recently returned to the US after 10 months in Guatemala, Uganda, and Nicaragua. We hope you enjoy reading about these events and more; as always, we thank you all so much for your continued support!
Sincerely,
The Soccer Without Borders Team
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City Cup celebrates World Refugee Day
On June 11th, Soccer Without Borders and The International Rescue Committee hosted its first annual City Cup for NYC's Refugee youth and their family members. Brooklyn's Tillery Park was inundated with energy and enthusiasm from over 100 participants, hailing from more than 15 countries, including: Togo, Burma, Haiti, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Nepal, India, Yemen, Honduras, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Liberia, Egypt, Senegal, Tibet, Iraq, and Lebanon. Once again, soccer prevailed as a unifying and powerful force. Thanks to a generous donation by Major League Soccer,
 | | The 2011 City Cup Champs! |
every attendee received a raffle ticket and a chance to win Red Bulls' seats and signed MLS jerseys and soccer balls. The highly anticipated World Cup consisted of a very competitive, and equally spirited, series of 7 v 7 games culminating in a final match between Spain and the U.S.A. Spain triumphed, and finished the day as World Cup Champions. Over twenty high-school aged girls participated in the day's events, playing non-stop for two hours and showing off their hard work and tremendous ability in a showcase 8 v 8 game in front of a crowd of over 80 people, including a very impressed group of their male contemporaries! It was undoubtedly a fun and meaningful day for everyone involved, and we look forward to seeing everyone out on the pitch next year. Check out NY's Daily News Article for more on the event!
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SWB Advisor Ann Cook leads youth and coaches clinics in Nicaragua in US Embassy Program alongside Annual Spring Infusion
May was an exciting month for Futbol Sin Fronteras Granada. As FSF players wrapped up their first complete season, they were joined by 14 volunteers from around the US and the world for "Spring Infusion", a camp week designed to celebrate FSF teams. Volunteer student-athletes from Penn State, Marist, Utah and Auburn University, as well as sport enthusiasts from the UK, Trinidad and Tobago, and Canada came together in Granada to participate in "FSF Pride Week". Simultaneously, SWB Advisor Ann Cook and Lockhaven University Asst. Coach Kara Lowery traveled to 5
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| | Ann in Ocotal, Nicaragua |
Nicaraguan cities with the US Embassy to promote the growth of youth soccer, encourage girls' participation nationwide, support the Nicaraguan Women's National team, and teach engaging coaching methods (watch Embassy video). The dual events converged at the end of the week with a friendly match between SWB volunteers and staff and the U-20 Nicaraguan Women's National Team in the recently inaugurated National Stadium in Managua. Cheered on by more than 65 FSF participants and their families, the SWB volunteers earned a 3-1 win with a promise of a rematch. The highlight came after the game, as the FSF Mariposas (U-11) took to the stadium field for a showcase game. The celebratory chanting from the bus ride home is still ringing in everyone's ears!
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Our Game, No Borders: Women's World Cup Players Share Experiences with SWB Youth
In celebration of the upcoming Women's World Cup, SWB players and teams have been linked with national team players from around the world in a first-of-its-kind letter exchange. World Cup players from Sweden, Norway, Mexico, New Zealand, Canada, Nigeria, France, England, and the United States have donated time from their own World Cup preparation to answer the questions of SWB youth from around the world. In collaboration with Our Game Magazine, an online publication that promotes Women's Soccer around the world, the campaign was kicked off by SWB Advisor John O'Brien and is now well underway. SWB fans and supporters can join in the fun on Facebook by posting questions for US Player Tobin Heath! Tobin will be answering fan questions for the next few days, so ask away!
For a little fun with Tobin, check out this old YouTube video of her "tricks battle" with teammate Casey Noguiera.
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Progress Comes with Practice: SWB and the OIHS Girls Soccer Team
 | | The girls celebrating after a match |
Over the past three years, SWB has been developing a girls soccer program for the students of Oakland International High School. In that time we have played more than 50 games, with one win and two draws to our name. With more than 95% of the team playing soccer for the very first time, the coaches emphasize learning, commitment and having fun with very little emphasis on winning and losing. This spring, the amazing players in the program saw the fruits of their labor, winning four league games and scoring goals in every game they played. More importantly, they had a blast while doing it! The group, which consists of girls from Burma, Bhutan, Nepal, Tibet, Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Afghanistan and Liberia, grew into a close-knit team, with practice attendance at an all-time high. An important part of building confidence is believing you can do something you previously thought to be too difficult to achieve; this spring the girls at OIHS not only built confidence, but also the foundation for a positive team culture for years to come. A special shout out to Up2Us' Coach Across America program and Team Up For Youth's Coaching Corps initiative both of which played a key role in staffing and growing the the program.
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Announcements
The Kicking and Screening Film Festival is just around the corner on July 20-23 in NYC. See some great soccer films and support SWB!
Summer Camp Volunteer Opportunities available at U.S. Sites- Apply!
Support SWB!
Become an Ambassador
Buy an SWB Shirt
Donate |
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DONATE NOW!
(Click on the Dove)
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Follow the Women's World Cup with SWB!
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Sharing the Women's World Cup Experience
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Welcome Home SWB Interns!
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Uganda: Heather Luboff, Courtney Bell, Adam Nagy
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Guatemala: Brittany Larson, Reese Boge, Ava Murphey, Luis Palacios, Julie Colhoff
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Nicaragua: Lindsey Whitford and Larkin Brown
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A Special Thank You to the Laughing Lotus Yoga Center!
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This June, SWB is the recipient charity of the Love Saves The Day Program at Laughing Lotus Yoga Center |
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