Football instructor Steve Krishna is on the ball when it comes to promoting a sense of belonging for young refugees settling in the Illawarra.
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As an avid fan of the round ball game and leader of football development program Soccajoeys South Coast, Krishna has linked with refugee support group SCARF and will host a Soccajoeys Open Day on September 16.
The event at eightfoxavenue Indoor Sports Centre, Coniston runs from 9.30am-11.30am and is open to all pre-school children.
‘’Soccer is my passion, and teaching kids at an early age inspires me to give all children a great head-start into each child’s individual journey,’’ he said.
“The main goal is to help each child develop into the best they can be, and soccer is a great game to connect with kids and make them feel welcome.
‘’On the day you will also have an opportunity to support SCARF, which facilitates a range of programs to help refugee entrants navigate the practical and personal challenges of building a new life in Australia.’’
SCARF executive officer Sherryl Reddy said SCARF has provided support to over 1600 men, women and children from refugee backgrounds from 14 different countries over the last 12 years.
‘’We are promoting the Open day to all our SCARF community members and are hoping it will be a great opportunity for families from different refugee backgrounds to participate in a fantastic opportunity for social inclusion as well as to have fun, learn skills and gain confidence through sport,’’ Ms Reddy said.
‘’We are big on offering our refugee entrants social inclusion activities.
‘’This partnership with Soccajoeys is ideal to promote engagement in sporting activities that bring together people from refugee and non-refugee backgrounds to help build a sense of belonging for everyone.’’
Krishna said he is proud to support local refugees and hopes the Open Day will introduce more young people to the enjoyment of Soccajoeys.
With 10 locations in the area and a team of 15 coaches, Soccajoeys has become one of the country’s leading soccer development programs for children aged 3-8 years over the past decade.
To join the free session, along with a barbecue and refreshments, email southcoast@soccajoeys.com or call Steve Krishna on 0422 231 971.