20. Play football with refugees

Remember the last time you tried to explain the off-side rule with a little row of coins and a beer mat? Remember biting your tongue when they said it was too complicated?

There’s no need to drive yourself up the wall when sorting your starting eleven. One of the best things about the beautiful game is that it’s a language spoken the world over. Billions of people play, eat, drink and speak football – including refugees in your community.

So next time you fancy a kick-around get in touch with your local refugee community group, get hold of a ball and start flaunting your back flicks.

It’s a great opportunity to meet new people, keep your skills polished and gain a greater understanding of other cultures. Not to mention the joy of discovering the Farsi for "22 men kick a ball around for 90 minutes and then the Germans win"!

THIS IS OUR SIMPLE ACT OF THE MONTH!

Get inspired by this little video about the Refugee World Cup in Leeds

Of course, it’s not just football that brings people together. Play cricket, tennis, rugby, golf, hockey, bowling, netball, caber-tossing, curling, extreme ironing… whatever takes your fancy!

Want to play a game of football? Here's alll the Refugee Week football events taking place in 2010

Here's a bunch of schemes that get British-born people and refugees chatting

And here’s some ways to meet local refugees

Completed Actions

organised 2 teams boys and girls to participate in refugee week football tournament in leicester

James Mutiro

Leicester

08 July 2010 09:31 AM

I played in a tournament against mixed teams including young refugees. They were very good and won the tournament, it really broke down some barriers and stereotypes!

Kevin

London

25 June 2010 01:37 PM

Played in a refugee football tournament and helped the mood by getting ceremoniously dumped out of the competition by Crossworld FC

Sam Crosby

Brixton

25 June 2010 01:08 PM

On Tue 22 June the Refugee Cricket Project (partnership project between Cricket for Change and SMILE/Refugee Council) went to Eton College yesterday to play against their cricket team and had an amazing day, culminating by a RCP victory. The young people thoroughly enjoyed the experience and we hope Eton did too. Everyone at Eton has been very supportive of our work throughout and we hope to go and deliver awareness raising school talks there soon. This is great news for the Refugee Cricket Project and a credit to the very committed volunteers and staff of the project, not least Antonia Cohen and Danny Baker

Arnaud Vervoitte

London

24 June 2010 09:35 AM

Members of Norwich International Youth Project (mainly unaccompanied asylum seekers and young refugees from countries such as Afghanistan, Iraq and Congo) played football against firemen and the Lord Mayor in a local park.

Jo Foster

Norwich

21 June 2010 02:15 PM

As part of the RW, the Red Cross organised a family fun at the biggest park in Norwich called Eaton Park. The fire brigade were present with a fire engine, the police. The Lord Mayor of Norwich joined later with one of his coucillors and we played football. The firemen and the mayor played the game with us. We are happy to have such aenergetic lord mayor in norwich.

Gervais Kouloungou

Norwich

21 June 2010 01:28 PM

I've written a short article about it: http://www.southnorwichnews.co.uk/opinion/20-simple-acts-for-refugee-week/#more-3966

Samir Jeraj

Norwich

21 June 2010 01:05 PM

Alternative world cup football tournament - fantastic day, bringing lots of people together from different backgrounds to play what they all love,football!

sneha patel

london

21 June 2010 09:31 AM

As well as talking about Destitution and sending an email to all my colleagues in my new work place, regarding our Destitution Fundraising. I also attended few events in Birmingham and Coventry.

Nahzley Anvarian (Naz)

Lionel Street

19 June 2010 06:12 PM

It was fun!

Lucy Mayblin

Birmingham

19 June 2010 05:59 PM

we found a park and had a nice day playing football and doing other things

Paul Shaw

Lionel St

19 June 2010 05:56 PM

it was fun

taela

saulsubrey

18 June 2010 09:25 AM

me and my friends are refuges.We had good fun playing football in the park

hasan

salusbury

18 June 2010 09:05 AM

i like football

rakeem

salusbury

18 June 2010 09:04 AM

Will, We would teach small refugees between the ages of 5 - 15 how to play football.

New Student Intranet.url

Edevi and Jermaine

St George's RC School

16 June 2010 01:59 PM

I play it on wedesday

Rakeem

salusbury school

16 June 2010 01:51 PM

I love football so I want to see how refugees play football.

karim

salusbury school 5r

16 June 2010 01:50 PM

i smiled a bit i guess :)

freddy

salusbury

16 June 2010 01:50 PM

It went really well

Jafar Alsalemi

Salusbury Primary School

16 June 2010 01:46 PM

football

sam and kyle

26 douglous road

16 June 2010 01:44 PM

our school st.georges are doing a world cup where anyone an join all teams Yay :)

isaac koh

st.georges

16 June 2010 01:38 PM

it was fun playing with the refugee because the refugee was happy

ibrahim

brent

14 June 2010 05:37 PM

In My school we have a refugee clubhouse It's for children that come from other countries. And they have football there and iv'e played football with them sometimes, it is really really fun I like playing it with my friends.

http://www.salusburyworld.org.uk/

Check out the website.

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Scottie

Salusbury Primary School

14 June 2010 05:23 PM

Scott Lewis O'Brien

Salusbury Primary School.

14 June 2010 05:15 PM

I organised the Leeds Refugee World Cup 2010 - so lots of playing football with refugees, and also visiting a Refugee Week event!

John Gandy

Leeds

14 June 2010 03:36 PM

I played table football at the Refugee Council Alternative World Cup Launch event on 25 May

Antonia

London

14 June 2010 03:31 PM

We organised a table football tournament involving 20 doubles teams competing for a world cup country. The event was a great success attracting adults and children from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds.

Danielle

London

27 May 2010 09:54 AM

Had a fantastic game bringing together a variety of nationalities in a safe and structured sport loved by all countries.....apart from USA ;op

graeme kirkup

Glasgow

19 May 2010 04:57 PM

A fun day for all! Football tournament and BBQ at Brighton rugby club, 6 teams representing different community groups and lots of supporters. :o)

Tessa Brechin

Brighton

19 May 2010 04:36 PM

Played table football with a friend from Bosnia, and whooped his back side!!!

London

19 May 2010 04:17 PM

Played table football with a friend from Bosnia, and whooped his back side

London

17 May 2010 09:18 PM