Soccer fields bridging cultural divide in Trois-Rivires

Soccer has become quite an event at the Al Basha household. The family, which includes five girls under 12, settled in Trois-Rivires two years ago after fleeing the war in Syria.

Now, twice a week, four of them put on their uniforms and hit the soccer field.

"I've met so many new friends," said the eldest,Raghad.

For the past two years, 20 children from families who recently immigrated to Quebec have been given a spot on one of the 66 teams of the Trois-Rivires soccer club's summer league.

They come from the Middle East, Africa and Indonesia.

Their registration fees are covered by the league and the equipment and transportation covered by other families within the league.

"The response has been very good," said Jean-Francois Hardy, the club's vice president.

"I have a lot of allies in the club, a lot of people know me. So I started by approaching the people I know and after that when you see people wanting to help, others join in. It goes fast."

At 11 years old, RaghadAl Bashais the most troubled by the family's past. She was old enough to remember what happened during the war and the family's escape.

Sometimes on the streets or at school, Raghadsaid she feels likepeople are staring at heror hears them calling her names, but on the soccer field, she's free.

RaghadandAriam, the next of the AlBashasisters,play on the sameteam.

Soccer is the place where they succeed and where, they say, theyfeel fully accepted.

Finding ways to fit in

That feeling of freedom and acceptance Raghad and her sisters describe was made possible with thehelp of a few people determined tohelp newcomers feel at home.

Francine Gelinas is one of those people.She's retired, but volunteers long hours at the centre for newcomers in Trois-Rivires. She has a vision. She believes it's everyone responsibility to welcome new Canadians into the community.

"I want Qubcois to meet and to talk with them, but they won't do it because we're all shy," she said.

Gelinas believes people are just too busy living their lives and too intimidated to care for someone outside of their circle.

She made it her mission to change that and thought bringing immigrants to the weekly soccer meetings could help bridge the gap.

Soccer isa universal language

Daniel Bigirimana, Fisal Mohamed and Huan Zxebastian Panela all arrived in Trois-Rivires within the last few years.

The three nine-year-old boys are all smiles on the field and, even as beginners to the sport with the added challenge of the language barrier, they still manage to get the ball and pass it around.

Making good passes is what the right winger Huan Zxebastianlikes the best. His mom, Beverly Panela, tries to come see him play as often as possible.

She sees how beneficial the program has been for her son.

"He enjoys it and he's also integrating with the other kids and he made friends too."

She's grateful her son could have the opportunity to play free of charge.

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Their budget is often stretched to the max and leisure activities get pushed down the priority list.

The Al Bashasalso say the program might not have been a possibility for their girls if the cost hadn't been covered. Now SamahirAl Bashaishoping her girls will be ableto stay in the league for the long run.

"I love soccer, because I see what it does in my girl's life.I see how they feel playing and I want that for them."