FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Sara-Christine Dallain, 805.637.6876, scd@iact.ngo
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 14, 2012 – Gabriel Stauring, Director of i-ACT, has recently returned from Sochi, Russia where he represented Darfur United at the Peace and Sport Forum. A forum hosted by the Prince Albert II of Monaco that brings together more than 700 influential decision-makers and high-profile opinion-leaders from world sport governance, politics, International Organizations, and the private sector. Stauring described the Forum as, “an amazing event, bringing together people from all over the world that share the same vision – that sports offers something unique and beautiful to the movement towards a more peaceful world.”
That vision and hard work was noticed. i-ACT, a small non-profit out of Redondo Beach, California, was honored with the “Peace and Sport NGO of the Year” award. The prestigious award rewarded i-ACT for having outstandingly contributed to peace and social stability in the world through its creation of Darfur United, an all-refugee men’s soccer team from the Darfur refugee camps.
The dedication of i-ACT and supporters is evident in the great lengths it has gone through to bring hope and motivation to the all-refugee soccer team. The first Darfur United squad set a major precedent when they reached the 2012 Viva World Cup in Iraqi Kurdistan, scoring the first ever goal on behalf of a united Darfur.
Darfur United team members were 18 to 28 year old men from Darfur, Sudan who fled their home due to on-going violence. They now live in refugee camps scattered on the Chad-Sudan border. Building on the Darfur United success, the team members are now helping to create a developmental soccer academy for young players as they also continue to prepare for future games. The Darfur United Soccer Academy will offer a safe place for children and youth to gather and participate in a healthy and enriching activity that teaches lessons that apply on and off the field.
Darfur United is supported by individuals. To support Darfur United and Darfur United Academy, visit their website www.darfurunited.com/support. You can help by becoming involved with i-ACT, donating, fundraising, and buying items from the Darfur United store.
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i-ACT empowers individuals within communities, institutions, and governments to take personal responsibility to act on behalf of those affected by genocide, mass atrocities, and crimes against humanity. i-ACT is global team dedicated to putting a face on the numbers of the dead, dying, and displaced while creating mutually enriching relationships between those in danger and those willing and able to act, fostering a new culture of participation. Visit www.iact.ngo and www.darfurunited.com for more information.
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