Calgary’s Soccer Without Boundaries: ‘We invest in them, they come back as mentors’
By Erika Ehrenberg in Ottawa, Canada In the southwestern Calgary community of Glenbrook, children as young as five set up orange, plastic cones to mark their field. In a small park—modest and once underused—young children soon arrive. Around the neighborhood, youth...
“Soccer gave me community”: How Héritier Masimengo found integration and belonging through soccer
Gratitude is the first thing people notice about Héritier Masimengo. Before speaking about his achievements, his work, or his goals, he pauses to say thank you—for the opportunity to share his story, and for the people who helped shape it. “I’m thankful,” he says...
From Syria to the Simbas: How Saleh Al Osman found belonging through soccer—and now helps others do the same
Under the fading evening sun in Terraview Park, you’ll often find Saleh Al Osman pacing the sidelines, cheering on kids with a whistle around his neck and a quiet confidence in his voice. For Saleh, the soccer field isn’t just a place to play—it’s where communities...
‘Soccer is everything’: How Dacious Richardson’s love of the game helped him heal from a childhood shaped by war
From a childhood shaped by war in Liberia to building one of Vancouver’s most dynamic youth initiatives, soccer has remained a constant through every chapter of Dacious Richardson’s life. For him, it’s only the beginning of unlocking the game’s...
Leveling the field: How Nyota Katembo turned refugee roots into a rising soccer career
When Nyota Katembo steps onto the field, everything else fades away; the noise, the pressure, the weight of her past By Zeba Tasci in Ottawa, Canada On the pitch, she’s just a player chasing a ball. But off it, she’s become so much more: a role model, a sister, a...