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Students Make a Difference in Lives of Refugees
May 4, 2016
For the past two years, Lindbergh High School’s Contemporary Issues classes have been following the story of two soccer stars and their journey to America. Now, the students are getting involved in the lives of Somali refugees Sa’ad Hussein and Saadiq Mohammed, raising funds to help Sa’ad successfully settle in St. Louis and pursue his soccer dreams in the United States.
Lindbergh High School Student Council is sponsoring an event at Sky Zone in Fenton, from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, to help raise money toward the $8,000 goal. All are welcome to attend!
Contemporary Issues teacher Lexie Weitzel said her class learned about Sa’ad and Saadiq’s story by following the production of a documentary called “Men in the Arena,” a human rights story that follows the best friends through Kenya, Somalia and the United States. Sa’ad was the top scoring player in Somalia’s national soccer league for four years, and one of the team’s most famous athletes.
“When (Sa’ad) sees the movie, he sees the real life he’s been through, and I feel the same way,” Saadiq said. “When I see what I have been through and how I was feeling at that time, and then how I feel now, it’s crazy.”
To date, students have raised $3,350 toward their $8,000 goal.
“This project is a way I feel like we can bring light to a social issue and have a social impact with this story, by providing Sa’ad some stability and a chance to play soccer,” Weitzel said.
In March, Sa’ad and Saadiq visited the Contemporary Issues class to meet students and share their story. Students asked questions about life in Somalia and how they are adjusting to St. Louis. Sa’ad is still learning English, so Saadiq answered many of the questions. They like listening to Rhianna’s music, and watching “Prison Break” and soccer on TV. Saadiq is taking college courses and Sa’ad is hoping to play soccer for St. Louis University. Both laughed and said they do not understand American football at all. On a more serious note, they explained that their families back home have trouble understanding how difficult it is to start over in a new country.
“They don’t understand how hard it is to come to a new country,” Saadiq said. “You struggle. You need help from people.”
For the past two years, Lindbergh High School’s Contemporary Issues classes have been following the story of two soccer stars and their journey to America. Now, the students are getting involved in the lives of Somali refugees Sa’ad Hussein and Saadiq Mohammed, raising funds to help Sa’ad successfully settle in St. Louis and pursue his soccer dreams in the United States.
Lindbergh High School Student Council is sponsoring an event at Sky Zone in Fenton, from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4, to help raise money toward the $8,000 goal. All are welcome to attend!
Contemporary Issues teacher Lexie Weitzel said her class learned about Sa’ad and Saadiq’s story by following the production of a documentary called “Men in the Arena,” a human rights story that follows the best friends through Kenya, Somalia and the United States. Sa’ad was the top scoring player in Somalia’s national soccer league for four years, and one of the team’s most famous athletes.
“When (Sa’ad) sees the movie, he sees the real life he’s been through, and I feel the same way,” Saadiq said. “When I see what I have been through and how I was feeling at that time, and then how I feel now, it’s crazy.”
To date, students have raised $3,350 toward their $8,000 goal.
“This project is a way I feel like we can bring light to a social issue and have a social impact with this story, by providing Sa’ad some stability and a chance to play soccer,” Weitzel said.
In March, Sa’ad and Saadiq visited the Contemporary Issues class to meet students and share their story. Students asked questions about life in Somalia and how they are adjusting to St. Louis. Sa’ad is still learning English, so Saadiq answered many of the questions. They like listening to Rhianna’s music, and watching “Prison Break” and soccer on TV. Saadiq is taking college courses and Sa’ad is hoping to play soccer for St. Louis University. Both laughed and said they do not understand American football at all. On a more serious note, they explained that their families back home have trouble understanding how difficult it is to start over in a new country.
“They don’t understand how hard it is to come to a new country,” Saadiq said. “You struggle. You need help from people.”
- READ: “For Somali soccer stars, life in America is a whole new game” (St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 24, 2016)
- READ: “Salvation in soccer: Dream-seeking Somali refugees reunited in U.S.” (Sports Illustrated, March 28, 2016)