The COS Justice and Peace Group’s Hand in Hand Refugee Project team, members of Even Anders Foundation (who funded the event) and staff of COA (the government agency managing the asylum camps) organized a fantastic football tournament on Sunday 23 August. More than 120 youth and adult footballers participated from several COA asylum camps, including 20 youth and adult players from COS and local football clubs. A great atmosphere with friendly though competitive football, a DJ, and international food.
It was a great example of Christian beliefs in practice of “Love your neighbor” – breaking down barriers, extending friendship, and providing a welcoming community in the face of the currently highly polarized, politicized, anti-migrant environment. It was also a positive interfaith initiative- seeing Catholics, Protestants, Orthodox Christians and Muslims – working closely together to make it a success.
Every Sunday, for the last two years the COS Justice and Peace group has organized and run the United Football club for asylum-seeking/refugee footballers, including many teenagers who are unaccompanied minors, alongside young and older asylum-seeking men. This is one of the J&P group’s many refugee project community focused initiatives, to give asylum seekers/refugees a hand-in-hand community they can feel is their own. The players received their Football Club red, white and black kits.
Special thanks to our COS youth who played, our CoS football coaches/coordinators Andrea de Angelis, Anare Boseniyasana, Lucas van Os and Dianne Luping, and J&P members Mari van Veldhuizen, Anthony Heinsbroek, Basel Albem, and Fr Sjaak. And thanks to Deacon Paul Falke for leading our first aiders.
Any budding Ted Lasso/Roy Keane football coaches, or referees, or Kylian Mbappe-inspired footballers – please contact the J&P Coordinator and Football Coordinator via the Parish Office to join Sunday United Football Club. Others wishing to help the J&P group in human rights/environment initiatives, or in other refugee project work as volunteers – such as the Soul Kitchen dinners, Praat or Chat cafes (conversational Dutch or English cafes for refugees), or events – please contact the Parish Office who will connect you with the coordinators.
