THE MALCOLM PACIFIC REFUGEES IN SPORT INITIATIVE (RISI)

What has sport got to do with the health and positive resettlement of refugees? “Plenty, as the potential of this new initiative becomes realised,” says RAS Community Manager Dr Arif Saeid. Through the sponsorship of Malcolm Pacific, RASNZ is moving to develop a series of programs to open better access for former refugees into mainstream New Zealand sport. “We are very grateful to David Cooper and our Sponsors Malcolm Pacific for all the assistance and encouragement,” says Dr Saeid. Together with Refugee Community Facilitator Santino Deng, Dr Saeid is leading the project.

“Sport is the universal language, and soccer is the universal sport. We are encouraging the potentially hugely valuable input of former refugees and young players into the New Zealand game. We have found that there were many barriers: financial, language, cultural, whatever the reasons, the connections just weren't being made,” says Dr Saeid. “Refugees from all countries and all languages love soccer, and many of our groups just need a place to play and some support.”

The RISI program aims to provide for;

• A ‘passport’ for young players from refugee families into local sports clubs
• A fund to support refugee families to subsidise club fees and equipment for their children, both boys and girls, to participate in sport
• The creation of an all-refugee RASNZ soccer team, “The All Refs” for exhibition games
• Training young people from refugee backgrounds in coaching and refereeing
• Coaching clinics for refugee players and training for young people from refugee backgrounds to develop careers in sport
• Teaching families from refugee backgrounds swimming and water safety
• Involving young people from refugee backgrounds in a range of sports and activities

Expected outcomes? Better integration of young people from refugee backgrounds into the wider New Zealand society, reducing social isolation. Improved self-esteem and cultural pride for young people from refugee backgrounds. Increased positive images of refugees and how they contribute so much to New Zealand society. And…. not least….perhaps an eventual further boost for New Zealand Soccer on the world stage.