They come from the most dangerous places in the world, representing 19 different countries including Afghanistan, Congo, Sudan, Somalia and Bosnia. They left their homes and came to America to survive. Soccer brought them together. Coach Luma Mufleh took this group of survivors playing pick-up games on a dirt field and turned them into a winning team: The Fugees Family.
The Play: A (short) History of the Fugees Family
Coach Luma watched the kids playing soccer on a dirt field. They didn’t have proper clothes or follow many rules but they were having fun. That was all Coach Luma needed to see. These kids had skills. What they needed was a coach.
The Fugees started out just a soccer team, but that wasn’t going to cut it. Coach Luma realized her players didn’t have enough to eat, weren’t getting proper education and struggled for acceptance.
Coach Luma stepped up. She found English tutors for the children, work for their parents and, like the best coaches, became a much-needed positive influence their lives.
At the beginning of 2007, Coach Luma had done a lot of good with The Fugees Family, but she still needed help. And that’s when we at Let Me Play got in the game…
The Score: A Long-Term Partnership
When we read about the Fugees Family, we immediately hooked them up with more Nike gear than they knew what to do with. Now, Let Me Play is partnered with the Fugees Family. So far, we’ve donated $100,000 in cash and product and continue help wherever needed.
This past summer, Nike took the Fugees Family to a summer camp at Smith College for one week. They were introduced to new sports and the world of multimedia and computers. For some of the Fugees, it was the first time they had ever used a computer, and by the end of the week, they’d all made short videos that revealed a story about their lives. It was also the first time for all the Fugees to be on a college campus and experience the possibility of attending one.
Thanks, in part, to Let Me Play, the Fugees Family added over 50 new members this year, making three boys teams and, for the first year, an all-girls team. We’re excited to help the Fugees Family as they keep changing more lives through sport. We’re starting a fourth U12 boys team in February. The Fugees are also learning to give back and be role models in their community. They run soccer clinics at their local elementary schools.
Get in the Game: There’s Still Work to Be Done
Even with all of the donations and partnerships, the Fugees Family still needs help.
- Proper Playing Fields/Surfaces
- The Fugees Family needs a proper field to play on in Clarkston - and Let Me Play is working with Nike Grind to make this happen. Find out how you can donate old shoes to make new fields.
- Tournament: Travel & Registration Costs
- Let Me Play is helping raise funds so that the Fugees Family teams are not prevented from participating in tournaments they qualify for during the year.
- Expanding the Fugees Family’s Reach
- Let Me Play will help Coach Luma expand the reach of her organization to more of the 60,000+ refugees who come to the U.S. each year.
Get Involved
- Fugees Family:
- Learn about the Fugees Family, the team and how you can get involved.
- Video Clips:
- Check out some great videos about the Fugees Family posted by Coach Luma.
- Donations:
- Donate to The Fugees Family.
- Merchandise:
- Show Fugees pride with your own Fugees Family t-shirt.
- Shop:
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Buy on Amazon.com with this link and 6% of the proceeds from your purchase will go directly to Fugees Family.
- Volunteer:
- If you’re in Georgia, and want to know how you could help as a volunteer, e-mail the Fugees Family volunteer coordinator.
