The efforts of one local soccer team are making an impact that extends far beyond the Tri-Cities.
A team of 12-year-old girls donated their jerseys to a boys team in Zimbabwe. The idea came from team manager Vivienne Royle, whose colleague in the Coquitlam School District, Max Vincent, founded the Silokwethemba Project - We Have Hope.
Vincent's efforts have brought school and medical supplies to poor and orphaned children in the villages of the tiny African nation. Over the past decade, the Silokwethemba Project has provided the school fees for thousands of children in the 35 rural schools in the Tshelanyemba area. It has also distributed hundreds of pairs of shoes to area children who are passionate for soccer, often playing barefoot and using makeshift soccer balls made out of whatever material is available. Vincent also puts on a soccer school every year that wraps up with a World Cup-style tournament for children in the surrounding villages.
"I raise money in Canada and every July I go back and I will pay the school fees, this year it was for about 680 kids," said Vincent, adding that it's the soccer balls, jerseys and other equipment that makes the biggest impression on the children.
"They're just completely passionate about it."
Royle approached the coach of the Poco Euro Rite FC U13 girls who arranged for Vincent to make a presentation to the team, where he described the lives of the children in the African villages and explained the work done by the Silokwethemba Project.
"We had these extra jerseys and we knew Max was going over and did the soccer program so we ended up asking if he wanted to take them with him," said Royle.
The girls then wrote personalized cards, offering best wishes to their new friends across the globe, which were tucked inside the jerseys along with a photo of the girl who had worn it. The girls' wishes came true, with the boys winning their soccer tournament.
"During his presentation, Max had discussed how the children don't smile in pictures. It's just something he has rarely seen," said coach Trevor Perri. "When you look at the picture of the boys with their medals you can visibly see the smiles and other boys hiding their smiles. That just gave me goosebumps."
While the children's reaction may have been subdued, Vincent said their teachers "are just giddy they're getting these uniforms. And they couldn't care less if they're used or not."
Perri said the difference the girls made in the lives of the African children will likely remain with them long after they hang up their soccer cleats.
"The little differences you can make are that much more rewarding. I love to share the experience with these girls," said Perri. "Part of my pre-season speech to the parents and the girls is we want to make well-rounded individuals. We don't want to just make great soccer players, we want to make people that care and make a difference, and they're showing they can."
The team has taken on a number of worthwhile projects in the past - making placemats for seniors and teaching soccer skills to younger children - but none that have made more of a difference or a bigger impression on the girls than this one.
"We're hoping that this is just a start," said Royle. "We're hoping more teams will get involved and hopefully our team will continue to be involved so it's not just a one-off thing."
And if they do, Vincent is sure to be there to make sure it gets to the children in Zimbabwe. For more information about the Silokwethemba Project - We Have Hope, visit http://silokwethemba.wordpress.com.
