Transcending Barriers Through Soccer
Wednesday, November 26th, 2008
A smile is said to transcend all language barriers, but for children in Mali, a soccer ball might just break through even better. Kids in Mali love soccer. Considered a nation among the poorest of the poor where most families live on less than a dollar a day, Mali children improvise when it comes to their soccer equipment. Their living conditions do not keep them from playing the sport they love. Soccer to them doesn’t mean grass fields and fancy gear. It means a gathering of children on an open patch of dirt, using whatever makeshift rags or trash for their ball and net.
In January of 2009, Compassion Corps is taking a team to Mali to build a water well and add two pumps and covers. This well will serve over 200 people. Not only that–it will also save the village women countless hours and time out of their day since the average 40 year old woman spends about eight years of her life getting water. But that isn’t the only thing we will be focusing on during our time in Mali; building relationships with the people there is just as important as constructing that well. While many smiles and love for the children in Mali are sure to narrow the cultural and linguistic gap, we are fortunate enough to narrow it in another way as well.
When we found out about Eurosport’s partnership with the US Soccer Foundation’s Passback program, we decided to ask to see if they would be able to help in any way. The Passback program donates new and gently used items to communities that otherwise wouldn’t have the funds for proper soccer uniform and equipment. What an answer to prayer it would be to go to Mali in January with a few new soccer balls for the children? We were very excited with this prospect and decided to contact this organization to see if they could help us in any capacity.
We were astonished by their generosity.
Upon our arrival in Mali in January 2009, and by the generosity of the Passback Program, children in Mali will be able to experience soccer in a different way. Passback has graciously donated to us the following items:
- 15 white jerseys
- 15 red jerseys
- 30 black shorts
- 15 pairs of black socks
- 30 black warm up pants
- 15 black jackets
- 4 GK jerseys
- 4 GK shorts
- 2 pairs of GK gloves
- 15 pairs of shinguards
- 30 size-5 balls
- 20 scrimmage vests
This is above and beyond anything we could have asked for or expected. We truly believe that because of the kindness of this organization, many children will experience love and care in ways they never have before.
Challenge: Start with a small bottle of water. As you slowly drink it, consider those millions without pure & accessible water. Then place back into the bottle a $10 bill. Do this each week, for 7 weeks, until the end of ‘08. Send the funds you gather to: