An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of. The fugees have none of the fancy cleats or embroidered soccer bags. The fugees were chronicled in the bestselling book outcasts united by warren st. On a teachercreated wallsized world map, have students place markers identifying the different countries from which the refugee boys of the fugees family soccer team in outcasts unitedcame. Fugees family is a 501c3 nonprofit organization devoted to working with child survivors of war. John has penned the fugees story in outcasts united. Fugees family nominated for the 2018 peoples voice award duration. The book focuses not only on the inspirational journey of mufleh and the refugees, but also on the lessons the story provides on how we build community in environments in which people seem to have little in common. On view at the american history museum is a tshirt from the competitive georgia soccer team fugees made. Jun 05, 2018 the book is about devin, who has moved to california from connecticut, and is hopeful that in california shell be on a really good soccer team. Outcasts united a moving account of how a soccer team made up of diverse refugees inspired an entire community here in the united states. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a plex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, luma mufleh. The story of the first fugees academy, in suburban atlanta, has been told on the today show, cbs sunday morning and cnn, as well as in the new york times and the wall street journal.
Clarkston, georgia, was a typical southern town until it was designated a refugee settlement centre in the 1990s, becoming home to scores of families in flight from the worlds war zonesfrom liberia and sudan to iraq and afghanistan. Refugees find hope, film deal on soccer field in suburban atlanta, a soccer team made up of young refugees from global hot spots fought city hall for a. The story of a refugee soccer team that changed a town. The book tells the story of clarkston, georgia, a southern town that became a center for refugee resettlement, through the lens of a soccer team of refugee boys called the fugees. The story unfolds by introducing readers to luma mufleh, a jordanian woman driven to make a life for herself in the usa while missing the family that disapproves of her new home. That summer, luma made fliers announcing tryouts for the fugees soccer team. Hand out a list of the fugees family soccer players and their places of origin.
Outcasts united summary from litcharts the creators of. The soccer team provides young refugees with an outlet for their energy, a chance for community, and a guiding structure to keep them out of gangs and to make progress in school. A moving account of how a soccer team made up of diverse refugees inspired an entire community here in the united states. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference was published in the u. Based on an adult bestseller, this young readers edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, luma mufleh. Fugees soccer coach inspiring story of refugee soccer team comes to ud. The book explores the difficulties the team and town face as people from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds are forced to live and work together. To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up. The fugees a nonprofit organization devoted to working with child survivors of war. Mar 09, 2007 refugees find hope, film deal on soccer field in suburban atlanta, a soccer team made up of young refugees from global hot spots fought city hall for a place to play.
Its a tale about resilience, the power of one person to make a difference and the daunting challenge of creating community in a place where people seem to have little in common. Nicole bengiveno new york times members of the fugees soccer team in. The book tells the story of a youth soccer team, the fugees, made up of boys from families that have been relocated to the atlanta suburb of clarkston, ga, from wartorn countries around the world. Refugees find hostility and hope on soccer field the new. The epilogue reveals that several of the former fugees attend college and have academic success. In the years that followed, the soccer team grew into something much larger a school, a tutoring program, a summer camp, a college prep program, and, most importantly, a community and support network. The author explores how the community changed with the influx of refugees and how the dedication of lumah mufleh and the entire fugees soccer team inspired an entire community. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse. The book tells the story of a youth soccer team, the fugees, made up of boys from.
But the teams a mess, and now devin has to straighten them out. We provide refugee boys and girls, grades 612, with mentorship, structure, and support to help them integrate into their new home. Fugees soccer coach brings refugee crisis discussion to iu. Clarkston, georgia, was a typical southern town until it became a refugee resettlement center. Though he is impressed by the team, he senses tension between the players and their coach. Especially if you have any soccer crazed kids who need a book report or biography to read. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from. The subjects of the book polarize around the game of soccer, however, the book is about the experience of a handful of immigrants, before and after their arrival to america, and their various. Outcasts united is the story of a refugee soccer team, a remarkable woman coach and a small southern town turned upside down by the process of refugee resettlement. Team fugee is one of a set of novels that focus on soccer and the. The extraordinary story of a refugee football team and the transformation of a small american town. Dec 06, 2011 schools outcasts united, the story of the fugees soccer team a presentation by their soccer coach luma mufleh is set to begin at 7 p. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees. Delacorte press, an imprint of random house childrens books, a division of random house inc.
John of the new york times and soccer coach luma mufleh. The soccer team provides young refugees with an outlet for their energy, a chance for community, and a. This young peoples version of the adult bestseller, outcasts united an american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, luma mufleh. Clarkston, georgia, was a typical southern town until it became a refugee. A moving account of how a soccer team made up of diverse refugees inspired an. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the world, and their formidable female coach, luma mufleh. For the latest on the team and programs run by the fugees family, visit. Paul varian, a senior editor, executive producer and writer at cnn for nearly 30 years before his retirement in late 20 outcasts united is the inspiring story of refugee boys from countries ravaged by war and the enterprising jordanian woman who made them a soccer team and called them the fugees. Kanu said he often was teased in high school over the way he dressed and talked but when he took the practice field with his fellow fugees, everybody is equal.
Outcasts united is the story of a team of refugee boys, the remarkable woman who. Apr 14, 2016 when refugees receive what they call the golden ticket to the united states, they hope to put their hardships behind them and start a better life. The fugees program serves refugee boys and girls ages 1118 who attend twiceweekly soccer practices, play games on weekends and participate in tournaments. Its a book about resilience in the face of extraordinary hardship, the power of one. The organization empowers refugees to integrate successfully into their new country by providing them the support and structure they need to realize their vast potential. Outcasts united the story of the fugees, a soccer team of refugee children from a small town in georgia at first look seems to have all the makings of a disney movie. On view at the american history museum is a tshirt from the. I decided i dont want to get in trouble for soccer. The fugees play a beautiful game of soccer, winning 92. How soccer is changing the lives of child refugees at. John published an article about the team in 2007 for the new york times before deciding to write the book.
A refugee team, an american town by warren st johntim lewis is gripped by the story of a female football coach who has transformed the lives of refugees in americas deep. The fugees were chronicled in the bestselling book outcasts. In outcasts united, an adaptation of his adult book about the fugee team family, new york times reporter warren st. Mufleh, who was working as soccer coach in the metro area, eventually formed the kids into a team and founded the charity fugees family inc.
Luma expands her programs to include a fulltime school called fugee academy and adds soccer teams for girls. I guess from the summary of the book, i was expecting a little more of a story and a little less of a news reporthistory lesson. You may use tacks and string, or markers, to colorcode the different. I picked up a book to read during the soccer practice wait its really a great true story. Though he is impressed by the team, he senses tension.
Johns book teaches readers about the social and economic difficulties of adapting to a new culture and the challenges facing a town with a new and disparate population. Luma and mandela make up, and she helps him chart a path for his future. Although i appreciated some of the history as background, there just wasnt as much if the story of the fugees soccer team as i was expecting. The boys that responded became the first of the fugees, a boys soccer team for refugees relocated from a crosssection of wartorn countries. Founder luma muflehs ted talk was named one of the most inspiring of 2017, and the story of the youth soccer team that prompted the schools creation was told in. The book opens on a soccer field in clarkston, georgia, where luma almufleh is coaching a soccer team called the fugees, made up entirely of refugee children. Jan 21, 2007 even so, the fugees end the regular season on a misty saturday with a 21 victory, to finish third in their division with a record of 523, behind undefeated athens and the dacula danger, a team. Despite their cultural and religious differences and the difficulty of adaptation, the fugees came together to play soccer. Jul 06, 2017 how soccer is changing the lives of child refugees.
The author explores how the community changed with the influx of refugees and how the dedication of luma mufleh and the fugees soccer team inspired an entire community. How soccer is changing the lives of child refugees. How soccer is changing the lives of child refugees at the. The book tells the story of a youth soccer team, the. On other days, she takes them to movies and has team parties. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference. Jan 02, 2017 he says he plans to try out for atlantas new professional soccer team. Soccer team provides distraction for refugees renee montagne talks with reporter warren st.
Outcasts united is the story of a refugee soccer team, their coach and the small. When refugees receive what they call the golden ticket to the united states, they hope to put their hardships behind them and start a better life. Even so, the fugees end the regular season on a misty saturday with a 21 victory, to finish third in their division with a record of 523, behind undefeated athens and the dacula danger, a team. For readers who followed enriques journey, outcasts united is another equally moving account of refugees finding a new life in the u. Outcasts united by warren st john about a young jordanian woman named luma mufleh who was a u14 girls select soccer coach at decaturdekalb ymca about 10 years ago before she moved to clarkson georgia to coach 3 teams of boys made up. An american town, a refugee team, and one womans quest to make a difference, this young peoples edition is a complex and inspirational story about the fugees, a youth soccer team made up of diverse refugees from around the. The fugees first practice this season is on a sultry august afternoon, with thunderclouds looming in the distance. The book focuses on a soccer team called the fugees short for refugees started by a woman named luma mufleh, an immigrant to the united states herself, though from a more privileged background than the refugees she invites onto her team. Muflehs vision began as a soccer team and tutoring program, but has grown to include schools serving high school and middle school students in clarkston, georgia and columbus, ohio. After 90 minutes of studying, the team runs for half an hour and groans through situps, pushups and leg lifts. Jun, 2018 the story of the first fugees academy, in suburban atlanta, has been told on the today show, cbs sunday morning and cnn, as well as in the new york times and the wall street journal. The true story of an allrefugee soccer team coached by a resilient jordanian who makes finding. John moves back and forth between the individual family stories of the young immigrants who make up the fugees soccer teams three different age groups, and the chronicling of their coming together under coach luma mufleh.