FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Download the pdf of this Press Release here.
Contact: Sara-Christine Dallain, scd@iactivism.org, 805/637.6876, i-ACT Director of Programs
LOS ANGELES, November 3, 2014 – The Darfur United Soccer Academy was announced winner of Beyond Sport’s 2014 Sport for Social Inclusion presented by Barclay’s award. Supported by Sport Relief, the Beyond Sport Awards celebrate and reward the best projects from around the world that use sport to bring about positive social change.
A project of i-ACT, the Darfur United Soccer Academy is the first comprehensive sports program for Darfuri girls and boys in the refugee camps along the Chad-Sudan border. The Academy is co-created with the refugee community and is implemented by trained men and women refugee coaches. The Academy builds leaders, empowers women and girls and provides a safe place for refugee children to play, move, and heal, while developing their soccer skills.
Beyond Sport is a global organization that promotes, develops and funds the use of sport to create positive social change across the world. The winners of the Beyond Sport Awards 2014 were announced at this year’s global three day Beyond Sport Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa. The powerful Summit brought together organizations, agencies, athletes and businesses to collaborate, share best practices and develop strategies for the use of sport for positive social change.
Gabriel Stauring, Founder and Executive Director of i-ACT, attended the three-day Summit and said, “When accepting the award in Johannesburg on behalf of our refugee friends and the i-ACT team, I could not have felt more proud and humbled. It is beyond amazing to connect the Academy and the refugees with the combination of heart, mind, and muscle that is Beyond Sport.” As a winner of the Beyond Sport Awards, i-ACT will receive global recognition, a package of substantial business and strategic support, and exclusive access to partnership and media opportunities.
The Darfur United Soccer Academy is one small step towards social inclusion for the refugees. It has now been running for one year. Moving forward, i-ACT has ambitious goals of expanding the Academy to all twelve refugee camps on the Chad-Sudan border, with the potential to reach 24,000 children and create 24 new jobs for refugee men and women.
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The Darfur United Soccer Academy is a project of i-ACT. We are always looking for strategic partnerships that expand our programs and create personal connection between Darfuris and indivdiuals, communities and businesses. For more information or to get involved visit www.darfurunited.com
i-ACT empowers individuals within communities, institutions, and governments to take personal responsibility to act on behalf of those affected by genocide, mass atrocities, and crimes against humanity. i-ACT implements a range of projects directly serving and empowering the Darfuri refugee population in eastern Chad through education, sports, and technology; while fostering a new culture of donor participation by creating mutually enriching relationships between those in danger and those willing and able to act. For more information: www.iactivism.org