Football Star Launches “Barefoot to Boots” Initiative in Kakuma

Kakuma, Kenya. 25th June 2015 (UNHCR)

Awer Mabil, a former South Sudanese refugee and current football star at Australian top league football club Adelaide United, returned to Kakuma Refugee Camp to launch a powerful initiative called “Barefoot to Boots.”

Mabil, who was born in Kakuma 19 years ago, was resettled in Australia in 2006. He grew up playing football with his friends in the dusty river beds of the camp and naturally, his passion for the sport only grew stronger after moving abroad. “I used to play football every chance I got,” he says. “That was all that my friends and I could do for fun.”

He and his elder brother Awer Bul Mabil first came to Kakuma in 2014 to revisit their past and identify ways of giving back. They returned to Australia where they collaborated with prominent businessman Ian Smith, Rachael West, a former government official and Osama Malik, Mabil’s teammate at Adelaide FC to bring the initiative to Kakuma.

With over 300 kilograms worth of football kits, boots and balls, Mabil and his team met boys and girls from various refugee and host community football teams.

“We came to distribute football kits and boots but we have learned so much more,” said Mabil during one motivational talk where refugees showcased various talents through sports, music, theatre and dance. “I leave Kakuma knowing that there is great potential among refugees and I want to do more to create awareness and opportunity for them.”

Mabil and his team hope to return to Kakuma every year to distribute more equipment and support other activities for refugees and the host community.

UNHCR/C. Wachiaya