In the World
heard of Darfur are now gaining interested in the story behind this unlikely team – and more will follow as the story unfolds through social media and a feature documentary.
After the tournament, the Darfur United project is moving into a sustained phase of implementing ongoing sports programs for youth and adults alike in the camps.
i-ACT, based in Redondo Beach, California, is the leading organization working on the ground in refugee camps in Eastern Chad, with established relationships and partners since 2005.
Who says you can't bottle (and distribute) genius? Developed in Brazil to address under-illuminated slums, this simple design idea has been adopted by MIT students and expanded to other developing areas where many low-income homes lack access to either daylight or electricity.
The physics of the concept are straightforward: the bottles are placed in roofs - half outside, half inside - and
their lower portions refract light like 60-Watt light bulb but without the need for a power source. A few drops of bleach serve to keep the water clear, clean and germ-free for years to come.
Brazil
Darfur United is an all-refugee soccer team made up of Darfuri refugees living in camps in Eastern Chad. Not only is Darfur United a team, it is also a movement – a movement to bring hope, inspiration, and joy to the displaced people of Darfur.
Throughout the camps, soccer is the uniting passion. Even though rivalries exist over who the best team and best players are, just about everyone loves to join in a game. It was this spirit that inspired the formation of an official team to compete at the 2012 Viva World Cup in Iraqi Kurdistan. It was not only the team’s first international competition, but where they scored the first goal for Darfur.
What Impact Will the Team have?
Beyond the 16 players who played in the Viva World Cup, the impact of Darfur United continues to ripple through the camp with the Darfur United Soccer Academy. When the news of the project first reached one of the camps, a representative said “Now we are a part of the world.”
This response is indicative of the positivity and hope that seeing a team of their own play internationally has on the refugee population. Not only in the camps, but also people around the world who had never
What is Darfur United?