Birmingham Legion Recognition Event for Refugee Soccer Camp
Saturday, July 13, 2024
We invite you all to come out and join us on Saturday, July 13th as Birmingham Legion recognizes some of our soccer camp attendees out on the field at halftime. Click here to learn more details about the game and buy tickets.
Community partnerships are an essential piece of our mission to ensure that refugee and immigrant newcomers are on a path to safety, stability, and success when they arrive to Birmingham. Collaborative efforts with Birmingham Legion FC and Northstar Soccer Ministries have culminated in yet another successful soccer camp season, along with a special surprise for the refugee youth who participated:
Refugee Soccer Camp
The Alabama Office for Refugees has partnered with Northstar Soccer Ministries to hold our 2nd annual refugee soccer camp. The soccer camp seeks to promote the emotional and social wellbeing of refugee school-aged children in Birmingham, AL through the international sport of soccer. Last year, we had 26 players from 6 countries participate in the camp; this year, over 75 children and adolescents from 16 countries were able to participate. Thanks to the support of Birmingham Legion, students also had the opportunity to spend the last day of camp at Protective Stadium with the Legion team and attend Saturday’s match along with their families.
Many of the children who participate in the camp have fled war-torn countries and have sought safety with their families here in our city. Soccer camp may be their first chance to play on a team sport, to learn English, and to make new friends here in their new home. We are grateful to Northstar Soccer Ministries and Birmingham Legion for their support of refugee families through the global language of soccer.
Who is a Refugee?
Refugees are people who have fled their countries to escape conflict, violence, or persecution and have sought safety in another country. Many have been forced to flee with little more than the clothes on their back, leaving behind their homes, possessions, jobs and loved ones. Refugees resettled in the United States are on a legal pathway to permanent residency and will become eligible for naturalization after living in the U.S. for five years. In Fiscal Year 2023, Inspiritus helped welcome 112 new refugee arrivals to Birmingham and provided services to 662 foreign-born Alabamians.
Volunteer Opportunities:
Serve as a “first friend” volunteer to families as soon as they arrive to Birmingham
Be an afterschool tutor
Help a newcomer child or adult practice their conversational English, academic English, and/or vocational English skills
Become an interpreter (paid opportunities available)
Help with a move-in
Provide a welcome meal
And more!
You can contact Jessica Naccari at jessica.naccari@weinspirit.org to learn more about volunteering.
Donate:
Click here to make a donation and select “Refugee Services: Birmingham” to direct your donation to refugee services in your community.
You can also visit our Amazon Wishlist to help provide other items for refugee families in need or contact jessica.naccari@weinspirit.org to donate new or gently used furniture and other home items in good condition.
Special Thanks to Our Partners:
