Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute has joined up with iACT, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization providing humanitarian action to aid, empower, and extend hope to those affected by mass atrocities, as a community partner to provide volunteer medical personnel and materials during this month’s first-ever Darfuri Refugee Women’s Team Training Camp.
This training camp will launch the formation of the Darfur United Women’s Team (DUWT) this fall. The soccer team will be an all-refugee team representing Darfur, Sudan, and the women who hold the community together.
Female players from eight refugee camps in eastern Chad who currently serve as coaches for the Refugees United Soccer Academy, and young women with some experience who are interested in joining the team, will come together for a week-long soccer training camp with expert iACT soccer coaches and trainers.
The women’s team will give the women of Darfur the opportunity to train, compete and represent their people on the field and provide new opportunities for women and girls in their community. The team hopes to build on the success of the Darfur United Men’s Team (DUMT).
Darfur United started back in 2012 in refugee camp Djabal, located in Goz Beida, eastern Chad. Sixty Darfuri men traveled to Djabal from all 12 Darfuri refugee camps in eastern Chad to try out for the men’s soccer team created by iACT in a joint effort with the Darfuri refugee community, the UN Refugee Agency and soccer fans.
The men’s team has participated in the Viva World Cup in Iraq-Kurdistan in 2012 and in the 2014 CONIFA World Football Cup in Östersund, Sweden, where they have been able to share their stories with the world. In addition, this past summer, DUMT with the support of Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, who provided medical personnel and materials, held its first U.S tryouts. Currently the Darfur United Men’s Team has players living in eastern Chad, Sweden, and the United States.
When asked about the significance of starting the first soccer team for Darfuri refugee women, iACT’s Founding Executive Director Gabriel Stauring said, “When the men were trying out for the first Darfur United team, the refugee women called me over and asked, ‘What about us?!’ This opportunity to represent Darfur, refugees, and women around the world is beyond special. It’s transformational.”
iACT thanks ongoing community partner Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute for its continued support of iACT and Darfur United.
“At Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, we have the tremendous honor of treating some of the greatest amateur and professional athletes in sports today. However, the opportunity to volunteer our services to what will be the first soccer team for Darfuri refugee women is truly humbling,” said Carlos A. Uquillas, M.D., sports medicine specialist and orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute.
“We are proud to support iACT, its humanitarian efforts, and these Darfuri refugees whose courage and perseverance are to be admired and celebrated.”
To find out more and inquire about getting involved, please send an email to felicia@iactivism.org or visit https://darfurunited.com/darfur-united-womens-team/.
Cedars-Sinai Kerlan-Jobe Institute, headquartered in the Los Angeles, California area, is a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries and conditions.
