Forty-one percent of the world’s refugees are children and have faced war, violence, persecution and trauma. Upon arrival in the United States, refugee children are met with continued barriers to education, English language acquisition, bullying and cultural adjustment. Sport can reduce stress, stimulate mental well-being, and promote social integration and overall physical wellness.
Learn more about L.A.C.E.S. three areas of intervention
Sports Camps
L.A.C.E.S. launched its refugee program in July 2016 with a one-week soccer camp attended by forty-five kids ages 9-14 from fourteen different countries speaking seven different languages. The soccer camp focused on four of L.A.C.E.S. foundational values: self-esteem, teamwork, respect and fair play. Learn more about the impact of our sport’s camps on our blog and watch the video below.
Soccer Leagues
In November 2016, L.A.C.E.S. formed a team of twelve refugees and played in its first soccer league. Children participating in the leagues have an opportunity to develop their soccer skills, interact with their peers from various cultures and practice English language development. League participants come from five different countries and have arrived in the United States as little as four months prior.
Community Development Workshop
Have you ever asked yourself the following questions:
- What does the refugee journey look like and how can we identify with it as American Christians?
- What does the refugee resettlement process look like and what are the key challenges faced by refugees?
- How can I more effectively communicate cross-culturally?
- How can sport be used to bridge the gap between the refugee population and American communities?
Through L.A.C.E.S. one-day workshop, individuals gain a broader understanding of the refugee journey and the refugee resettlement process in the United States. Workshop participants will be guided on how to foster cultural intelligence, cross-cultural communications tips and how sports can be an effective bridge builder between communities. Each group is encouraged to develop unique action steps to meet the needs of the refugee population in their communities.
Please contact us info@laces.org for more information about our workshop.
