Soccer Without Borders: Oakland Project

The Soccer Without Borders’ Oakland Program has been receiving some hugely justified publicity. In Oakland, Soccer Without Borders’ engages specifically with newcomer youth. Young immigrants and refugees from over 31 countries around the world are involved in the Oakland Program which uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youthwith a toolkit to overcome obstacles to personal growth, inclusion and personal success.

The project transcends sex, ages and ethnicities, introducing many young people to soccer. Many of the youth haven’t previously been involved in sport, often for cultural reasons. The soccer program helps bring students together who may not previously have met in a school   or community environment. Soccer is used as a vehicle to produce cross-cultural friendships that Soccer without Borders’ highlights as one of their main goals.

Soccer without borders’ creates a community feeling through soccer. Over 29 languages are spoken among those involved in the program, but participants are encouraged to do their best to speak English while on the soccer field. For this reason soccer is used as a tool alongside language for universal understanding and learning among the participants. 

Soccer Without Borders engages in the competitive element of soccer. Oakland runs seven teams, serving more than 170 core participants throughout the year with five boys teams and two girls teams. Each team practices twice a week and plays a weekly fixture as part of the Alameda Contra Costa Youth Soccer League and the Albany-Berkeley Soccer Club.

Check out the Fox News Latino article on the program itself and their video showcasing Oakland High School program.