How exciting it was to hear: “The winner of the Sport for Social Inclusion is Darfur United Soccer Academy!” The Beyond Sport Awards came on the third and last day of a powerful Summit that brought together organizations, agencies, and businesses that share the common vision of using sport for positive social change. Representing our refugee friends and the i-ACT team, I could not have felt more proud or humbled going up to receive the award.
The Academy has now been running for one year. It has not been running because of me or my team. It has been the effort of the refugees, the wonderful coaches and the boy and girl players, that make the Academy a fun, peaceful space to learn and play.
Inclusion, the category for our award, can mean so many things, on so many levels. Darfuri refugees have been excluded for more than eleven years. The world has moved on, as violence continues in their land, and support is drastically cut in their refugee camps.
The Darfur United Soccer Academy (DUSA) is one small step towards inclusion for the refugees. We have ambitious goals: expanding DUSA to all twelve Darfuri camps on the Chad-Sudan border. We are extremely grateful for the recognition and support from Beyond Sport.
As I said in receiving the award, it is beyond amazing to connect DUSA and the refugees with this combination of heart, mind, and muscle that is Beyond Sport.
Thank you!
Gabriel
Support DUSA by sponsoring a child (or more!). Only $10 sponsors one boy or girl for one full year.
