A former refugee is giving back to her community with a free soccer program dedicated to refugee youth in Surrey.
Afsana Tabibi came to Canada as an Afghan refugee at a young age. Unable to afford to participate in the same activities as her peers, she struggled to find a sense of community. Now, an Associate Dean at Kwantlen Polytechnic University's (KPU) Faculty of Arts, Tabibi is bridging that gap for kids facing similar barriers.
"Growing up, my family was poor and we didn't have the money for extracurricular activities. I want to give refugee kids opportunities I didn't have, and to create a space where they can connect with each other to build lasting friendships," she says.
The result was Little Soccer Stars Club, a non-profit organization that offers a six-week program where 40 refugee youth learn soccer skills through different drills and games. Little Soccer Stars Club meets every Thursday at Cedar Hills Elementary School in Surrey.
"The kids are so passionate and hardworking, and it's clear how much love they have for the sport," she says. "This is really a safe space for them to engage with others that have gone through similar experiences, and to find connection through that and through their love of soccer."
The program is free for the kids, which Tabibi says wouldn't have been possible without the support of Diane Purvey, Provost and Vice-President, Academic at KPU.
"I went to Diane with this vision and she believed in me, this cause and the kids," says Tabibi. "She helped us secure KPU as a sponsor so we can provide jerseys, shorts, water bottles, backpacks and more to the kids."
"As a community-focused institution, engaging with youth is exactly the sort of thing we want to be doing more of," says Purvey. "Afsana came to me with a well-developed plan, a modest request and the drive to get the project off the ground. I am very proud of her and what she has achieved, and I look forward to growing the program."
KPU students have also played a pivotal role in Little Soccer Stars Club's success. The logo, branding, website and social media was developed by Sofia Piercey, a Graphic Design for Marketing student at the Wilson School of Design at KPU. Additionally, KPU international students Riya Chaudhary, Osinachi Ezeanya, Tochukwu Ibezim, Oluwatobiloba Oluwole, Darryl Opoku-Nti and Karman Singh volunteer every week to help referee games and set up the field and drills stations.
The inaugural soccer program concludes on Thursday Aug. 14 with a graduation and awards ceremony, but Tabibi plans to expand the program in the coming years.
"We've received a lot of positive feedback, and there's a growing list of over 100 kids that want to join the camp. The goal is to make it year-round," says Tabibi.
