Bridges to America Gives Nigerian Youth An Opportunity to Play Soccer in the U.S.
Bridges to America is working to help young people in Nigeria by creating a soccer tournament for which the winning team will have the opportunity to visit the U.S. and compete. In order to make this happen, he’s raising money on Indiegogo. Recently, We connected with Adam Miles, the founder, about the effort; here’s what he told us.
What is the social benefit you hope to achieve with or through your crowdfunding campaign?
The funds we raise through our crowdfunding campaign will directly benefit hundreds, likely thousands, of Nigerian youth by affording them the opportunity to engage with young American women volunteers as the youth showcase their soccer skills and share in their mutual love of soccer. The Nigerian teams that win the Bridges Cup will then come to the USA and be given the opportunity to meet more American players and see models of educational and business success and innovation. Those youth will then be challenged to take their new perspectives and learnings back to Nigeria and find ways to improve the existing infrastructure and systems there. The benefits to the American volunteers who travel with us to Nigeria, or simply play with these kids in the US leg of Save-A-Thon, are real in that they will gain international exposure, make new friends, and see a different way of life.
How much money are you hoping to raise and why? How much have you raised so far?
We need to raise at least $25,000 so that we can ensure a well-run event that provides a high quality, secure environment for both the local crowds and the visitors from the USA. Putting on a world class event that is enjoyed by all who attend and participate is key to the long-term sustainability of our project. We have raised just less than $1000 so far.
Whom are you trying to help with your project and why?
We have been and will continue to help the youth of Nigeria. 100mm people in Africa’s largest country, Nigeria, live on less than $1 per day and most of these are children. They live, for the most part, hopeless lives. We aim to fix one child and one soccer ball at a time.
We also provide an opportunity for American youth, particularly young women, to travel to Nigeria to provide encouragement, motivation and aid to these kids. The American women gain valuable exposure to a different way of life and an appreciation not just for what they have in the USA but for what these youth and they themselves COULD be.
The funds we raise allow us to reach hundreds and eventually thousands of kids and helps us bring the American volunteers there to run the programs and engage with these kids.
What rewards, if any, are you offering to your supporters?
Trip to the Women’s World Cup Game in Vancouver Canada to watch USA vs. Nigeria
eBook of We Are One. An account of an American girls’ soccer team trip to Nigeria in March 2014 just weeks before the Chibok Girls were abducted by Boko Haram
RSL-Women signed game ball
Photo Book of the most compelling photos of our numerous journeys to Nigeria
Trip to Nigeria as the Chairperson of the Bridges Cup 2015 scheduled for the Fall in Lagos, Nigeria
Check out the campaign:
Visit the website.
Follow on Facebook.
Follow on Twitter at @saveathon
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