Soccer Without Borders - Baltimore is a non-profit that caters to refugees and asylum seekers in the Baltimore area. In it's third year, SWB serves over 40 children aged 9-18 from Iraq, Bhutan, Nepal, Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, The Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon, and Guinea -- children who are often excluded from sports-based, school-based, and community-based extracurricular activities for one reason or another. SWB uses soccer as a vehicle to help children assimilate and adjust to their new life in the United States both socially and academically, and the program has grown considerably in just the past year. In fact, the SWB U-18 team recently won the Central Maryland Soccer Association Championship (photo below!). In addition to a weekly slate of practices and games, children in SWB attend mandatory tutoring/homework sessions, and "special" projects of late have included college visits to Towson, Loyola, and UMBC, a trip to DC for a DC United game, and a community-cleanup volunteer day.
As they prepare for their next season this fall, they are looking for volunteers. Fellow alum, Danny Sass ('09) has volunteered for the past year as a coach:
"We could always use additional coaches, tutors, drivers for games, and especially mentors. One of our missions has been to pair each child with a one-on-one mentor, but as the program has grown, this has become increasingly difficult. If you are interested in a volunteering position or have questions about SWB, feel free to visit the website and email me."
As they prepare for their next season this fall, they are looking for volunteers. Fellow alum, Danny Sass ('09) has volunteered for the past year as a coach:
"We could always use additional coaches, tutors, drivers for games, and especially mentors. One of our missions has been to pair each child with a one-on-one mentor, but as the program has grown, this has become increasingly difficult. If you are interested in a volunteering position or have questions about SWB, feel free to visit the website and email me."