Executive Summary

SWB envisions a more inclusive and equitable world, where all youth have the opportunity to reach their inherent potential. Established in 2006, our mission uses soccer as a vehicle for positive change, providing under-served youth with a toolkit to overcome obstacles to growth, inclusion, personal success while creating belonging. By the 2026 World Cup, SWB will have directly served over 50,000 youth.

Soccer is a universal language perfectly suited to unite diverse populations and contribute to social inclusion. Inclusively-coached soccer teams build agency and elevate the contributions of all team members. SWB’s team members are refugee and immigrant youth ages 5-20 from 75 different countries of origin, speaking 54 languages. Nearly all are English language learners with few or no English-speaking adults at home; 39% of our participants are refugees, 35% are asylum-seekers including unaccompanied minors, and 26% are new immigrants.

Our Executive Director is an immigrant, arriving in the U.S. without knowing English, first finding belonging on her middle school soccer team. Our diverse team of staff and volunteers hail from over a dozen countries and reflect the communities we serve in many ways; ⅓ of our head coaches are refugees/immigrants, 50% identify as women, and ⅓ of our staff are program alumni.

SWB’s holistic, evidence-based model combines soccer play with educational support and community-building, creating a powerfully influential environment that develops the whole person. Youth retention is at 75%+ and they remain with SWB because, “it is more like a family than a program.”

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