Bridges from Borders has partnered with Buffalo's Maendeleo Soccer Club to host the first ever #OneWorld Soccer Tournament.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — A local group that supports immigrants hosted a youth soccer tournament on Buffalo's Lower West Side on Saturday.
Bridges from Borders has partnered with Buffalo's Maendeleo Soccer Club to host the first ever #OneWorld Soccer Tournament in Western New York.
Organizers said they were trying to bridge cultural gaps through friendly competition.
“It's rare that you get all these different communities together, so when we can bring them together and open people's minds and break down barriers, it's really special,” Samantha Dalca, program coordinator for Bridges from Borders, told 2 On Your Side.
Bridges from Borders hopes to make the event an annual event and expand it to more communities. The nonprofit was founded in 2020 “in response to the impact of the pandemic on Asian communities and the increased need for mental health support,” the organization said.
Participation in sports improves children's physical and mental health and teaches them important skills, says the coach of the Maendeleo soccer club, made up of refugee children.
The #OneWorld Soccer Tournament took place at Dobson Field from 10am to 6pm.
