Soccer organization assists girls abroad

Soccer Without Borders (SWB) is using soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the lives of marginalized youth in foreign countries. A non-profit organization based in San Francisco, SWB raises money for disadvantaged youth who lack access to quality sport and education opportunities.

The program caters to young women in particular because in many countries, women do not receive the same privileges and opportunities as men.

Founded in 2006 by former Lehigh University soccer player Ben Gucciardi, the program runs projects in Central America, Asia and Africa.

“Kids are given opportunities to be involved in teams, practices and events where they feel part of a group and community,” said Katlin Okamoto, director of girls programs for SWB. “Beyond the stability they get in knowing that there will be practice every week or an event on the weekends, they are also building relationships with their peers and mentors that positively affect their everyday lives.”

SWB hopes the young women who participated in this organization will grow up to realize that it is possible for them to be successful and take the initiative to continue making positive changes in their communities. 

For more information, email info@soccerwithoutborders.org, or call (415) 587-1399.

SGA’s international posters display students’ diversity

Posters displaying students’ names, yearbook pictures and flags from their countries of origin have recently been displayed in the Bulldog lobby and by the main office to exhibit the diversity of the student body.

According to the SGA, the posters are part of their initiative to promote the vast diversity at CHS this school year.

“We have a lot of students from different countries that we should be proud of and showcase,” SGA sponsor Justin Ostry said.

According to Ostry, all students were surveyed during their fourth period classes last semester, where the SGA explained the flags and asked for each student’s country of origin.

“[Someone in leadership] asked me if I wanted my picture to go up,” sophomore Aylin Unal, a student of Turkish heritage, said. “I think she already knew [where I was from].”

However, some of the students have no recollection of filling out the survey.

“I didn’t even know my picture was going up,” junior Martino Picco, an Italian student, said. “But I think it’s cool that the school cares about [international] students and wants to learn more [about different] cultures.”

Sophomore leadership student Rachel Marincola is working on the international flag project and is finding students who are from different countries and then creating the displays.

“I’ve just been asking people where they’re from and some people have even come up to me and asked to have their picture displayed,” Marincola said.

There has, however, been some speculation among students that some of their peers may not actually be from the country that they are being associated with.

“If people tell me they’re from a [certain] country, I assume that they are telling me the truth,” Marincola said. “I don’t know why people would lie about it.”

The feedback from the majority of students interviewed was positive, and they seem to be curious about their classmates’ places of origin.

“A lot of people don’t know where [their classmates] are from,” said junior Ann Katherine Chemkoff, who is from Canada. “It’s cool when people just walk by and find out something new about someone they know.”