“From our very first visit to the refugee camps, in 2018, it  was very apparent that the Rohingya refugees loved soccer. Though balls and equipment were very limited, they found a way to play with homemade balls of reeds or rags.  We brought a few balls, uniforms and equipment with us each year, and the kids would thoroughly enjoy our makeshift pickup games.  But in 2020 we wanted to go big with soccer.  Instead of 2 balls we brought 20.  We also brought a lot more uniforms and equipment.  And best of all, we had a contact inside the camp organize a friendly game  between our group of volunteers and the Rhongia Football Club.  Fortunately they went easy on us.  While they dominated every aspect of the game, they did allow us to score one goal and the crowd of hundreds who had gathered to watch went CRAZY.  Final score of the game was a 1 -1 draw; but we all came away winners.”

-Luke H. (16)