In acknowledgement of International Refugee Week, Newington College, in conjunction with UnitingCare, will welcome a newly formed football team onto the fields at the Stanmore campus.  Composed entirely of young male refugees from a variety of strife torn regions around the world, the visitors will play an exhibition (friendly) football match against the ‘New’ boys at the College on June 20, 2014.

The event coincides with Newington’s annual Heritage Day, when the boys proudly wear items of clothing that display their family heritage. This year there is a good chance many football jerseys will be the dress of choice for the day.

The 2014 FIFA World Cup has naturally built to fever pitch within our inner west school where over 50 national cultures and ethnicities are represented, and the boys will build a massive run on ‘tunnel’ to announce the visiting team’s arrival onto the field as a gesture of inclusion and in the spirit of celebration.

The post-match afternoon function will include presentations to the boys from both teams and a chance for all to exchange normal sporting and adolescent interests. Importantly, this showcase for football gives the boys at Newington an opportunity to demonstrate support for and share in a collective experience with this young often-marginalised group within Australian Society.

The young refugee team formed over a year ago. Some staff at UnitingCare could see the need to provide a recreational opportunity to young asylum seekers who were living in the community. It brought them together and of course had positive benefits on their mental health.

All the players arrived in Australia seeking Asylum. Most of the players are from Afghanistan and Pakistan and are of Hazara ethnicity- a group that has a long history of being persecuted. All of the young people in the team arrived without their families and are trying hard to establish themselves in their new community. They attend school (if they are under 18) and English lessons.

After a year of training, the boys joined a local football competition. Many of the over 18’s were/are struggling financially but this was made possible by members of the Roseville Uniting Church congregation, and general community members, showing support for Asylum Seekers, by each sponsoring a young person’s $220 registration.

The team have also been trained by a young women, Bronwyn O’Brien. Bronwyn is a volunteer and has managed to balance her university studies, part time work and volunteering training the team. Bronwyn was also found from the Uniting Church and she is a great role model to all the young people in the team.

UnitingCare’s Executive Director, Peter Worland, approached Newington, and the College was naturally keen to plan this day as an opportunity for all the boys to play a game of football, meet one another and build upon the normalising positives that sport can bring.

“We believe the day will have many more goals achieved than those that hit the net—as the young men demonstrate hospitality, good sportsmanship and warmth both on and off the field”, said Mr Mick Madden, Head of the Service Learning Program at Newington.