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Sadaya International Request for Summer 2022

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Thomas Fahn, founder and director of Sadaya International (SI), is returning to Liberia this summer. His main tasks will be conducting soccer clinics and spending time with coaches and academy teams for SI. He will also oversee work being done for his family’s guest house — all positive signs of Liberia returning to some sense of normalcy from the Covid-19 global pandemic.

Sadaya International leverages the power of soccer to educate and motivate Liberian youth to live healthier and more productive lives. They invest in young people with an aim to help them become agents of change in their families and communities.

Many talented Liberian youths have been reduced to extreme desperation because of economic and other hardships. Many have given up hope and have gotten into drug abuse, prostitution, crime and violence. The hopelessness and idleness, especially among the youth, breeds crime and other behaviors that are destroying individuals and their communities.

Thomas Fahn, on the plight of many Liberian youth

Sadaya International’s mission is to use the power of soccer to help young people develop Christian character in order to establish a strong Biblical worldview for their future.

Most of them do not have clothes and footwear. This is why we are collecting used clothes, shoes and soccer equipment of all kinds to ship to Liberia for them. If you have clothing, tennis shoes or any used soccer equipment we will be glad to pick them up anytime at your convenience.

Thomas, on his request for 2022
Thomas (left) gets ready to play some soccer games and drills with the children in Liberia.

The needs included in this year’s request include:

  • 20 size 4 balls
  • 25 size 5 soccer balls
  • 30 adult soccer cleats (sizes 7 – 10.5)
  • 20 youth soccer cleats (sizes 5 – 7)
  • 22 adult-sized jerseys, shorts, and socks

If you would like to make a specific donation of one of the items above check out our SmileAmazon charity list here. Or you can make a financial donation via PushPay and our Community Project Fund.

Thomas takes a rest break with a couple boys who are sporting local, Colorado club and professional donated gear!

When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Leaving for Liberia

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Thomas Fahn, founder and director of Sadaya International and Sadaya Soccer, a few months ago, wrote and requested soccer gear and equipment as they get prepared to travel to Liberia. Their hope is to ship a container mid-November and have the container filled with soccer gear arrive prior to their own return.

A box of gear will be headed to Liberia for Thomas Fahn and Sadaya United.

The Fahn family have been investing heavily in ministry amongst the youth population of Thomas’ native Liberia, one of the poorest countries in the world. Their original request included the following:

  • 20 size 4 balls
  • 30 size 5 soccer balls
  • 50 adult soccer cleats (sizes 7 – 10.5)
  • 32 youth soccer cleats (sizes 5 – 7)

Soccer Chaplains United was able to fulfill the following:

  • 20 (new) size 5 soccer balls
  • 1 size 5 One World Play ball
  • 1 size 4 One Wold Play ball
  • 2 (new) goalkeeper gloves
  • 6 used soccer balls
  • 1 used futsal ball
  • 30+ soccer cones

Unfortunately, we were not able to provide any soccer cleats for Thomas and Sadaya. Most of our remaining sizes are too big to service Sadaya and their needs.

We look forward to seeing the wonderful pictures and a report from Thomas as they get back to Liberia.

When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Soccer for Sadaya (Liberia)

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For Thomas and Jamie Fahn, the move from Denver, Colorado, USA to Liberia in August of 2018 to follow the call of God to serve in various areas was a massive move for them and their family. While in Liberia, they have been able to minister to at-risk youth in Monrovia through their soccer academy program. Unfortunately, earlier this year, with COVID-19 they had to return to the United States on an emergency evacuation flight provided by the US Embassy. The Fahns have been back in the US since April 9th, 2020 and by the grace of God — through their church, were able to find some temporary, affordable housing in Fayetteville, Northwest Arkansas. The plan for the Fahns is to make Arkansas a base of operations for now, but to return and make frequent visits to Liberia until things are conducive to return and continue the work.

Boys have fun racing during the soccer training sessions of Sadaya International Academy.

Today, Liberia is considered the poorest country in the world. The country is still recovering from the 15 years of civil unrest and the 2014 outbreak of the deadly Ebola virus. The economic hardship in Liberia can be seen from every street corner and sadly, the youth are the most affected. Many talented Liberian youths are experiencing severe economic hardship, which has reduced them to the level of desperation. Some of them have given up hopes and have buried their talents and indulge in activities such as drug abuse, prostitution, crime and violence. The hopelessness and idleness, especially among the youth breeds crime and other unhealthy behaviors that is leading to the destruction of individuals and their communities.

Thomas (left) gets ready to play some soccer games and drills with the children in Liberia.

During the Fahns short time working with the youth, they realized that most of them dream to be successful soccer players; unfortunately, their desires have not been matched with opportunities to nurture their skills and talents. The future of Liberia lies within in the youthful population, and so, the Fahns have been investing heavily in ministry amongst the youth population, and much of this through Sadya International Academy part of the ministry of Sadaya International (link to Facebook page).

Previously donated water coolers from Soccer Chaplains United are seen supplying the Sadaya International Men’s team. Gear and equipment make the opportunity of being on the team feel professional and meaningful and help keep Liberia’s youth from gangs and drugs.

The request for Sadaya comes at a difficult time with COVID-19 impacting donations and requests around football (soccer). Sadaya’s programs have a total of 110 youth and adult players, divided into teams in age groups U-11, U-13, U-15, U-17 and the men’s team. Their needs in this request include:

  • 20 size 4 balls
  • 30 size 5 soccer balls
  • 50 adult soccer cleats (sizes 7 – 10.5)
  • 32 youth soccer cleats (sizes 5 – 7)

With a return trip slated for December, the Fahns hope to ship items out in advance with a target date of November.

You can make a specific donation of one of the items above by checking out our SmileAmazon charity list here. Or you can make a financial donation via PushPay and our Community Project Fund.

Through Sadaya International Academy, Thomas and Jamie have come to realize that if Liberian youth are to be given a chance, they can be successful in life through sports and education. The goal of the soccer program is to provide them with opportunities to develop not only as soccer players, but also as contributing members of society.

Our soccer program has been very successful in providing hope for some of these young people, and the equipment Soccer Chaplains United has provided us in the past has helped us tremendously in achieving our goals. Thank you very much for your help!

Thomas Fahn, on past partnership with Soccer Chaplains United
Thomas takes a rest break with a couple boys who are sporting local, Colorado club and professional donated gear!

When you financially support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help our community projects and requests. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community Project from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals projects and organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

Community Request from Sadaya International

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Sadaya International may not be a familiar name, but its founders are familiar to Soccer Chaplains United. Thomas and Jamie Fahn, moved to Liberia last year (2018) and along with the move, L.I.F.E. (Liberian Institute For Empowerment) became Sadaya International. Sadaya translated means — “God’s grace” in the Goala dialect in Liberia.

Sadaya means “God’s grace”

Sadaya International has several programs and among them is the Sadaya Football Academy. Through football (soccer), Sadaya Football Academy seeks to use the power of sports to inspire, motivate, and encourage children and youth to stay out of trouble and focus their attention on things that will enable them to be successful. Sadaya recognizes that not all players will go on to earn a living from playing sports; therefore, the academy looks to provide other opportunities for players to get quality college preparatory education while learning their football skills. The academy’s youth sports program is for players (boys and girls) ages 6 through 19, and is designed to provide players with opportunities to learn technical and tactical skills that will enable them improve their soccer skills. As the players grow and improve, they are moved through the next age groups where they receive coaching tailored to their age and abilities. The final step of the process comes when they graduate from the U-19 team, where they are usually invited to join our premier team (Sadaya United) in Monrovia. 

The young boys from Sadaya Football Academy’s U-8 soccer team pose for a picture last year

Thomas shared that through last year’s generous donations, they have been able to successfully run the football academy.  They have been able to provide cleats to some of the players during training and games and the water coolers are being used to keep players hydrated during training and games in the oppressive 100-degree heat! T-shirts are being used for children in the scrimmages and games.

Sadaya’s U-12 Boys lineup for a drill

The needs here are tremendous. The number of players we expected to begin our academy program with has tripled, and parents are asking us on a daily basis to bring their kids to our soccer program…They are very passionate about the game because it provides them hope and happiness.  Born and raised in Liberia, I can truly identify with that feeling.  These kids come to practice every day with old beat-up shoes and some even come barefooted.  All they want to do is play soccer.

Thomas Fahn

In a recent Facebook Messenger call, Thomas shared with me that the biggest needs right now are for balls and cleats. The field conditions are so difficult that often, these items, are ruined or destroyed after just a short time. Additionally, many of the families are poor and cannot afford the soccer equipment.

One World Balls (blue) complement the typical soccer ball and usually last much longer than traditional soccer balls which easily deflate with the harsh field conditions.

Soccer Chaplains United’s community project will look to supply cleats and balls for Sadaya Football Academy. Some of the logistical considerations include the time and cost of shipping items to Liberia — with the cheapest way usually via container.

Boys in the football academy stay hydrated with a water cooler from last year’s request

Remember, when you support Soccer Chaplains United a portion of your gift automatically goes to help projects and requests like this one for Sadaya International. You can give specifically to help cover our costs by making a gift through PushPay — simply select Community from the selectable funds. Your financial gift helps us purchase new soccer equipment, sponsor individuals or organizations, and to cover associated costs of providing Bibles, soccer equipment, and other outreach tools locally and around the world!

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