by John Mehaffey | 22 Jul 2021 | Educators' Catalog, Sports, World
Wesley Mukerinkindi and Gaetan Ekoondo wanted to help youth pitch their skills to professional sports teams. Here’s what they created. Senegalese boys play football in Dakar, Senegal, 26 January 2005. (EPA Photo/Nic Bothma) Wesley Mukerinkindi was just two years old...
Students often wonder how they can make a difference in the world. Wanting to give back to their communities, young entrepreneurs Wesley Mukerinkindi and Gaetan Ekoondo — whose families fled from violence in Rwanda and the Congo when they were children — launched Search Your Team to create equal opportunities for other refugees and underprivileged youth through sports. News Decoder correspondent John Mehaffey interviews Mukerinkindi to learn how the pair were inspired to start the online platform, which helps youth athletes reach their dreams by showcasing their abilities to professional soccer clubs or college basketball teams.
Exercise: Ask students how their personal passions or experiences might be an inspiration to start their own community project and support other young people.
by John Mehaffey | 20 May 2021 | Europe, Sports
Owners of rich European football clubs thought a Super League would line their pockets. They failed to consider outraged fans — the ultimate bosses. Chelsea fans stage a demonstration against the proposed European Super League, London, Britain, 20 April 2021....
by John Mehaffey | 27 Jul 2020 | Human Rights
International sport resumed play this month, altered by COVID-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement. An empty stadium and a show of support for the Black Lives Matter movement revealed how much the sporting world has been changed by the COVID-19 pandemic and the...
by John Mehaffey | 21 Oct 2019 | Americas, History, Sports, United States
Through his extraordinary talent, perseverance and dignity, baseball great Jackie Robinson helped open major league baseball to black men. First baseman Jackie Robinson (right) flanked by fellow Dodgers teammates. (AP Photo/Harry Harris) During the opening episode of...
by John Mehaffey | 12 Jul 2019 | Asia, Sports
Afghanistan is an unlikely home for the sport of cricket. But its national team has proudly clawed its way to the game’s upper echelons. Afghanistan’s captain Gulbadin Naib celebrates during a Cricket World Cup match against Bangladesh, Southampton, England, 24...