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REFUGEE WEEK 2009 - NEWS RELEASE

Thursday June 11th 2009

Refugee footballers kick off international tournament in Leicester

Refugee footballers from across the world, including former professionals, will kick off Leicester’s International Football Tournament on Saturday June 20th.

People who have fled persecution will play alongside British footballers, as part of the city’s Refugee Week celebrations.

This year Refugee Week has launched the 'Simple Acts' Campaign which is inspiring people to do one or more of 20 'Simple Acts', such as play a game of football with refugees.

Teams taking part in the six-a-side tournament will include ‘Mandela FC’, Azadi, Afro Innovation Group, International Afghan, Sudan and Assist United.

Muzi Sibanda, a defender for Mandela FC, is a refugee from Zimbabawe. He said: “Mandela FC is proud to be playing in this tournament for the third year running. We are really enthusiastic about the Simple Acts campaign, which is inspiring British people to learn about refugees and vice-versa. That is what Mandela FC is all about and our positive attitude and team spirit is what has helped us to become a Leicestershire Sunday League side."

The tournament is organised by Refugee Action and is funded by
Leicester City Council, Phoenix Housing Association, Lancaster Boys’ School and Refugee Action. Leicester Kick Racism out of Football is also a supporter of the event.

Refugee Action’s Modupe Odifa, who organised the tournament, said: “Football crosses language and cultural barriers and brings people together, which is what the Simple Acts campaign is all about.

"We are expecting an exciting tournament again this year and can't wait to kick it off."

Aidan Hallett, deputy area manager of Refugee Action Leicester, said: “This tournament helps refugees and people seeking asylum to integrate with British people and feel a sense of belonging. Leicester’s International Football Tournament unites the players in their passion for sport.”

The International Football Tournament will take place at St
Margaret’s Pasture’s Sports Centre, St Margaret’s Way,
Leicester, LE1 3EA between 10am and 5pm.

ENDS

For more information contact Julia Ravenscroft, press officer at
Refugee Action, on 0161 233 1956/ 07771 748 159 or
Juliar@refugee-action.org.uk

Notes:

• About Simple Acts www.simpleacts.org.uk
  
  The Simple Acts campaign is about inspiring individuals to use small, everyday actions to change perceptions of refugees.
  
  It consists of 20 actions that can be done by anyone and that encourage us to learn and do more with refugees. With every person who joins the campaign and does a small thing with and for refugees, we get a little closer to removing barriers between communities and to creating the kind of world we all want to live in
• 1. Cook a dish from another country
  2. Tell a child a story from another country
  3. Watch a movie about refugees
  4. Do a quiz on refugees
  5. Say a little prayer for me
  6. Read a book about exile
  7. Sign off your email with a note about refugees
  8. Find five facts about refugees
  9. Find out who you REALLY are
  10. Visit a Refugee Week event
  11. Smile :o)
  12. Learn to say a few things in a new language
  13. Have tea with a refugee
  14. Share a song
  15. Join a big action campaign in support of refugees
  16. Share your sweets
  17. Give a book about refugees as a present to someone
  18. Define the word “Refuge”
  19. Take a picture of you and your pro-refugee banner
  20. Play football with refugees
• National Refugee Week (June 16th -22nd) is a UK wide festival that celebrates the enormous contribution made by refugees to UK life. Every year hundreds of arts, cultural and educational events are organised across the UK.
• Refugee Action is an independent, national charity working to enable refugees to build new lives in the UK. We provide practical advice and assistance for newly arrived asylum seekers and long-term commitment to their settlement through community development work, and received 30,000 visits from asylum seekers last year. As one of the country’s leading agencies in the field, Refugee Action has 27 years’ experience in pioneering innovative work in partnership with refugees.

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