1) What inspired you to donate the 750 soccer balls, and loving messages of hope from your donors?

I received knowledge that if my great grandmother didn't put my grandfather on the boat to America as a young boy, I could be a Syrian refugee. I thought about the pictures of people sitting around waiting for something to change in the camps so they could start their life. I knew deep down, that could be me. It also bothered me a lot because I kept flashing back to the picture of the 3-year old boy that washed up on shore. His name was Alan Kurdi. I feel like his front-page death brought the awareness to the refugee crises. Lots of people have drowned crossing the sea, but his death seemed to awaken the masses. Those two events haunted me and something deep inside me was called to action. I didn't know what I was going to do, but I wanted each person in the camp to know that they mattered and I wanted to bring them JOY.

I thought about ways to bring joy and the idea of soccer reached my consciousness. I had traveled around the world and it didn't matter the color of the skin, the age, gender or ethnicity; if I kicked a ball they would know to kick it back to me. Traveling with a soccer ball broke down barriers instantly and playing was always so fun. I came up with the idea Peace Joy Soccer. It started keeping me up at night, so I jumped out of bed, booked a ticket and then started figuring things out.

I also wanted to bring messages of love and hope. I wanted families to know that others around the world were thinking of them through cards. I asked people to use only pictures and answer the question, "what makes your heart happy." I collected them and brought them with me. I didn't know that in the camps if you asked a child to draw a picture, they'd draw pictures of drowning bodies, bombs, guns, families split apart and tears. When I presented the cards to a teacher he promised to hang them in the classrooms of the camps so the kids could create new positive ideals!

Actually donated 1258 balls. I sent 500 to some of the schools in Athens because I was working with the Mayor's office and found out they didn't have sports equipment. I didn't want to step over Greece and only help the refugees. I wanted to uplift the children locally and let them know that amidst their economic crises, they too, mattered.

2) What are your plans? What actions will you be taking? Where and when will you take those actions, and will you be donating something in addition to soccer balls and loving messages of hope?

I hope to go back to Greece this summer. I found out one of the refugee camps started a soccer program for girls. I plan to run a skills clinic, by women for those girls. They only have male role models to look up to and I hope to shift their mindset and remind them that they can do anything they put their mind to! Am networking to see if I can get some big names in women's soccer to join my mission. I just have to give the dates I will be there and the camp has offered to welcome me with open arms. I will continue to distribute balls to both boys and girls when I visit the camps.

A beautiful synchronicity led me to speak with a man at the gym. We had never seen each other before, but I was compelled to speak with him. We got to talking about Peace Joy Soccer and he said he had 15 girls soccer uniforms in his basement and would like to donate them to me. There are 30 girls in the program so far. I'd like to donate uniforms with numbers for every single girl so they can walk around their camp just as proud as the boys!!

3) How do you feel about the donations you've made? What did you see in the eyes of the children and their families?

I was able to hand out balls to a local pre-school in Athens and I got to play with the children. It brought me tremendous joy to run around and kick the ball with them. I wasn't allowed to distribute the balls in the camp because of safety reasons. Camp coordinators took it upon them self to do it after I left. They said it was too dangerous and could cause riots. That disappointed me, but as long as the children received the ball, I didn't mind who handed it to them. I just wanted to have something for them to play with!

I passed out bubbles to the kids in one camp and my clothes were being tugged on and I was swarmed by children and their parents. Once the bubbles were passed out, I watched children from West Africa blow their first bubble and their face lit up. One of the cgirls who was about 8 years old came and sat on my lap. She put her arms around me, kissed me on the cheek and said, "I love you." She ran off and blew bubbles with her friends. They were clapping and laughing. My insides were bursting with love and joy. I have heard that right before you die, your life flashes before you eyes. I have no doubt receiving that hug and seeing the children's faces will make my high light reel.

There was a middle eastern woman in one of the camps that saw me and came running out of her container (her home). She spoke in her language and spilled her heart to me. I could feel so much love radiating from her. She grabbed my hand and wanted me to come into her home. She wanted to have a cup of tea with me so she could have a sense of normalcy in her life. I had already gone over my allotted time and my driver needed to leave, so I missed that opportunity. But, when I go back this summer, I plan to bring some cookies to share when we have our tea together. I can't wait!

Donated balls to a refugee orphanage of teen age boys. There were 18 of them. My volunteers and I ended up playing soccer in the courtyard with them and we laughed, we high fived, we joked and we had the time of our life. After our visit, the mayor was speaking to us and we saw two boys leave the orphanage, throw their ball in the air, catch it and they ran down the street happy and excited. It was that Hallmark moment that brought tears to our eyes.

Each moment I was in service to others, my heart swelled with so much love and adoration for these children for all they had been through. I truly believe I am the lucky one getting the chance to experience their spirit, their strength and resilience and to be a witness to their story. I am forever changed, especially when the kids asked to take selfies, wanted to kick a soccer ball with me or wanted a hug or high five. I believe some of our greatest gifts in this lifetime are love, connection and joy and Peace Joy Soccer is bringing that everywhere we go!

Peace Joy Soccer, spreading joy one soccer ball at a time.

BlesSINGS,
~@!eXandRA Christ (That's really my last name)