AMBASSADORS OF HOPE

Communicating through sport.

Football is a language all its own, just because I couldn’t speak English very well you can still bring people together from every corner of the world, give them a ball and they’d know how to communication through football.

Hasb Airasoul Amek – Manchester

When I moved to the UK I didn’t have many friends, I lived in sheltered housing and as a young migrant I didn’t speak English. I had a passion for football and wanted to play but didn’t know where to start or find friends to involve.

Through the support from the housing association I began college and made some new friends. We enjoyed playing football so would meet up at the local park if someone had a ball. I met Nikki from the Rio Ferdinand Foundation and she reminded me that football is a language all its own, just because I couldn’t speak English very well you can still bring people together from every corner of the world, give them a ball and they’d know how to communication through football.

I planned my own football project in my local community for other young migrants who wanted to play and make new friends, one evening we had 65 players and I fundraised to pay for a coach, equipment and refreshments for 12 weeks. I was really proud of myself. Now I have all the equipment I need to keep bringing people together to play, I started volunteering for a local sports club and got a job. I now live in my own place and want to work in property development and business.