iACT is planning its 22nd trip to the Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad. We have the opportunity to bring Darfur United (DU) Coach Ambassador Bridget Grant to launch the third-ever Darfur United Soccer Academy (DUSA) for refugee girls and boys – this one in refugee camp Goz Amer. To do this, we need to raise $10,000 in the next two weeks.
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Darfur United Soccer Academy is a MOVEMENT for HOPE. The Academy is the first comprehensive sports program for Darfuri girls and boys in the refugee camps along the Chad-Sudan border. Each Academy is co-created with the refugee community and implemented by trained men and women refugee coaches. The Academy builds leaders; promotes health and education; empowers women and girls; and provides a safe place for refugee children to play, move, and heal; all while developing soccer skills. DUSA is also the first to provide the opportunity for girls in the camps to play soccer.
Here’s a video from the launching of our 2nd Academy in camp Touloum:
Darfur United Soccer Academy in Refugee Camp Touloum from i-ACT on Vimeo.
Each camp Academy hires two male and two female coaches based on their ability to provide strength-based coaching, their skillfullness on the ball, and their dedication to fostering growth, leadership, and skills in each Academy player. These coaches build a rotating daily schedule that provides daily skill drills, team building activities, small sided games, and a mindfulness and peacebuilding curriculum for 2,000 refugee girls and boys.
Bridget will be advised by DU Coach Ambassador Rachael Rapinoe, who opened Darfur United’s first two Academies in camps Djabal and Touloum, on how it’s been done and all the lessons Rachael has learned. Bridget played Division III soccer at Linfield College in OR and has provided leadership at several camps.
Help iACT launch the 3rd Darfur United Soccer Academy on its November trip to the refugee camps in eastern Chad!
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Academy Player Highlight 
Meet participant Mohamed Haroun, Academy player in camp Djabal.
Mohamed’s favorite part of DUSA is getting to learn from the coaches, scrimmaging, and when he scores a goal.
Mohamed is 10 years old and DUSA is the first organized sports activity he’s attended in refugee camp Djabal.
“When I feel alone, I go to the Academy and make friends and see my friends.”
Here, Mohamed is proudly displaying his very own DUSA membership card.