REFUGEES UNITED SOCCER ACADEMY
More than a youth soccer academy.
A space for kicks and hope for children affected by war and conflict.
DID YOU KNOW?
For children affected by conflict, play matters.
Sports programming for children and youth affected by war and conflict is regularly under-prioritized, and in fact often seen as unimportant. Yet when we sit and listen to families, what we hear is that they actually find it extremely important.
Parents want opportunities for their children to play.
THE IMPACT
Impact is about more than just numbers.
It’s about creating opportunities for children to grow and thrive. It’s about creating space for them to feel safe, make friends, and begin to dream.
PROTECTION & WELLBEING
RUSA creates a safe space where refugee and marginalized children can feel protected, build confidence, and improve their physical and emotional wellbeing.
YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & LIFE SKILLS
RUSA builds teamwork, leadership, discipline, communication, and confidence, helping youth develop skills beyond football/soccer.
PEACE & SOCIAL COHESION
RUSA brings refugee and host-community children together, strengthening relationships, reducing barriers, and promoting respect, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Creating safe and joyful spaces through soccer.
iACT is serious about soccer, and serious about creating safe and joyful spaces for play. The Refugees United Soccer Academy (RUSA) blends skills, drills, and team-building exercises with a coaching pedagogy designed to support the social and emotional wellbeing of girls and boys ages 6 to 13.
This community-led program is rooted in trauma-informed care, strength-based coaching, equality, inclusion, and a uniting passion for soccer.
THE CURRICULUM
Soccer skills. Life skills. Kicks & Hope.
Created alongside experienced coaches and child development experts, RUSA’s Kicks & Hope curriculum is adaptable to a variety of contexts and emphasizes the development of soccer skills while integrating a focus on the social-emotional development of children.
The academy gives children the opportunity to build life skills, make friends, gain a sense of belonging, improve as a soccer player, and experience joyful play five days a week.
COMMUNITY-LED BY DESIGN
Local coaches lead the way.
With an emphasis on gender equality, iACT trains two men and two women from the community to lead each academy. As a part of their role, they work to foster relationships with families and other community members, strengthening their ties with the program.
RUSA also serves as a way to connect refugee and conflict-affected children and youth with soccer players and clubs in the US and across the globe.
LOCATIONS:
PROGRAM PARTNERS
Partnership makes the program possible.
