Play Soccer So They Can 2009 — Recap

By Gavin Hollett

We are very excited to report that Play Soccer So They Can successfully launched this past year with participants from all over North America. From a pick up game by medical students at Queens University in Ontario ($100 raised) to a full scale tournament in Hollywood, California (over $500 raised), many people came together to play soccer so that war affected youth in northern Uganda can too. (The group in LA even produced a video, check it out here)

Although some groups that wanted to participate were unable to for various reasons, the Play Soccer So They Can community raised over $2,600 and continues to do so. Over the holidays, a grade 12 student in Victoria, BC, ran a soccer camp for younger students in her school to build support for soccer-based peacebuilding.  Additionally, a former University of Kentucky men’s player hosted a game this weekend in Richmond for soccer players wanting to support the youth in northern Uganda — they raised over $800 (pushing the total over $3,000)!

(students from Queen’s medical school after their game — credits to C. Newcombe)

Some of the other participating teams/games in 2009 were:

• Gordon Head Blazers (Victoria, BC)
• Bays United U14 Girls Team (Victoria, BC)
• Bays United Over 30 Women’s Team (Victoria, BC)
• University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) Women’s varsity soccer team
• NorthShore U14 Girls Caps (Vancouver)
• Richmond Men’s Premier Teams — Dragons vs. Ante Up (Vancouver, BC)
• Mall of America LUSH (Minnesota)
• University of Alberta Men’s soccer team in a game vs UVic Vikes (Edmonton, Alberta) — 1st recorded event
• Bays United Mens Div 1 (Victoria, BC)
• Boys and Girls Club (Nanaimo, BC)
• Cordova Bay Men’s team (Victoria, BC)

The funds raised by your collective efforts will be put to use during a 4-month project expansion in northern Uganda this year. Between April and July, OA will be working with our partner, the Youth Coalition for Peace, to continue to help establish a locally driven peacebuilding framework that connects war affected youth with local youth leaders to play soccer and to discuss important post-conflict issues related to community reintegration, peacebuilding and gender equity. The full project expansion proposal is available now here.

Click here for a short video that will give you a visual of how your funds will make an impact on the ground, during the upcoming project.

More photos and updates will come in the next few days as will more information about Play Soccer So They Can’s plans for 2010 and our budding partnership with a large youth soccer association in Vancouver, Canada.

A huge thanks to all who participated and helped kick start the community.