SPORTS FOR LIBERIAN CHILDREN ( LET THE CHILDREN PLAY)

I went to Liberia in December 2009 and sponsored many sporting events for children. Soccer is played in every Liberian city, town or village. Soccer is the most widely played sport in Liberia and Africa. Imagine what it feels like for these kids to play the game they love all the time and get all the resources they need to play it. Here is the formula for the game these kid love so much (Soccer Ball + Team Jersey + soccer boots + soccer whistle). A total of twelve soccer balls were bought and sent to Liberia. Throughout my childhood life, soccer kept me me busy after school. It kept our minds from the everyday pains of Liberia's 15 years of bloody civil war. Using skills learned from the study of Kinesiology (my second major), I helped these kids played the game for fun. They are very talented! I enjoyed them playing. They used the names of some of the world's celebrated soccer players like Ronaldo, David Beckham, George Weah, Drogba and Samuel E'to on the fields. The lack of resources and support from their parents and community leave these kid without the game they love to play. It is reported that many child soldiers left unattended are more vulnerable to joining gangs or participating criminal activities.