Inspiring soccer stories from 2011

Can soccer give a young country hope?

* South Sudan vs. the world: The birth of a national football team

Can soccer help rebuild a country devastated by disaster?

* Finding hope on the soccer fields of Haiti (Learn more about FONDAPS)

* Kona Shen uses soccer to inspire Haiti’s youth leaders

* Women’s World Cup win is a boost of morale for Japan

Can soccer transform people’s lives?

* Haitian Soccer Amputees Assist Wounded US Soldiers (Learn more about American Amputee Soccer Association and Passing Hope)

* A decade lost, a lifetime gained: Mother and child reunited through football (Learn more about The Homeless World Cup)

* Hope Academy Drakenstein Documentary (Learn more about Hope Academy)

Can soccer give girls an opportunity for a better life? 

* Pro soccer players Joanna Lohman and Lianne Sanderson want to change the lives of girls through sport (Learn more about their organization, Joli Academy)

* Yuwa India – Edina Grad Combats Poverty and Patriarchy (Learn more about Yuwa India)

Can soccer inspire others to be great?

* Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story

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I’m sure I’m missing quite a few. If you know of an inspiring soccer story from the past year, please take a minute and tweet me a link (@futboldaddy) or comment below. Also, look through the Can Soccer Save The World’s archives for profiles of inspiring organizations using soccer to change the world.

In 2012, I hope to bring you more stories of inspiration and hope from the world of soccer. Big plans are in the works for this project as well as for a trip I will be taking to Haiti in July. I hope you’ll continue to visit the site and consider sharing this site with others who might be interested.

Have a safe and happy holiday!