Amidst the pandemic, Soccer Without Boundaries has expanded its services to fill major gaps in serving newcomer populations, specifically Calgary’s African diaspora. This has resulted in the addition of two new services 1) an online tutoring program and 2) the launch of a food service program.
1) The transition to online courses has been a challenge for many kids. However, SWB noticed greater struggles with children who need extra English language support or lack access to technology – therefore an online tutoring program with technology donations began.
2) The pandemic revealed a structural gap in Calgary’s food security provision system – there are no culturally appropriate food services for the African diaspora. To combat this, SWB started purchasing foods from local African food stores and providing them to families in need. In this process, SWB helped to disseminate critical COVID-19 safety information and helped introduce newcomers to foods provided by mainstream organisations.