Soccer Tournament Unites African Diaspora over Sport, Social Good

This  Labor Day weekend, USA for UNHCR — the UN Refugee Agency — will be partnering with Vuvuzela Foundation, the organizers of the first-ever African Community Soccer Tournament (ACST), to bring attention to the ongoing famine in Somalia and throughout east Africa.

The tournament will take place on Saturday, September 3rd at John Ferraro Soccer Complex, located in Griffith Park, 5101 N. Zoo Dr, Los Angeles, CA.

Matches will begin at 9 am and are expected to last until 7 pm the same evening. 

The event will feature 384 of L.A.’s top African and West Indian soccer players on teams of 11 players each, representing 20 African and Caribbean countries in a CalSouth-sanctioned tournament.  There will also be a cultural celebration of food and music from the African Diaspora.

Many of the 2011 participating teams come from countries affected by significant refugee crises, including Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. USA for UNHCR will have representatives at the tournament to answer questions about the UN Refugee Agency’s work to aid famine victims in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia and share information about how soccer fans can support UNHCR’s work providing food, shelter and safety to over 26 million refugees worldwide.

“This event is a perfect opportunity for the African diaspora to come together over soccer, the world’s most popular sport, while helping with the worst humanitarian crisis in East Africa in the past 60 years,” said Michael McTernan, Project Manager for USA for UNHCR. “Thanks to the admirable efforts of ACST, USA for UNHCR will be able to communicate the urgent need for support in the Horn of Africa to a community that has its roots on the continent.”

To support the Horn of Africa famine response, please text SOMALIA to 80000 to donate $10 to USA for UNHCR, or visit www.UNRefugees.org. Messaging and data rates may apply. Please see full terms of service at http://mgive.org./t

About the African Community Soccer Tournament:
Produced by Vuvuzela Media and Marketing, the African Community Soccer Tournament is a non-profit one-day event that exists to unite Los Angeles’ African community, soccer fans, and the greater Southern California community annually for a day of family fun with cultural and community pride.

About United States Association for UNHCR (USA for UNHCR)
The United States Association for UNHCR (USA for UNHCR) supports the UN Refugee Agency’s humanitarian work to protect and assist refugees around the world. We strive to meet the needs of the world’s most vulnerable people, building support and awareness in the United States for UNHCR’s life-saving relief programs. Established by concerned American citizens, USA for UNHCR is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.