Vancouver Whitecaps FC are honoured to have Ali Mohammad from Canada SCORES as Kid Captain of the club's home match against Real Salt Lake at BC Place on August 29.
Canada SCORESÂ is a registered Canadian charity that provides free after-school programming of soccer, poetry and service-learning to 200+ students through partnerships with 12 schools across Burnaby, Surrey and New Westminster.
Ali is originally form Syria and has been living in Canada for four years. Before moving to BC, Ali and his family left their home and stayed in a refugee camp surrounded by thousands of other refugees for two years. It was a huge transition for Ali and his family to move to BC and they truly appreciate the lush greenery and the welcoming people in Vancouver.
At the 2020 Canada SCORES Red Carpet Poetry Slam, the audience was deeply moved by Ali's poem, “The Switch”. The poem was a courageous expression of his life in Syria and Canada SCORES is proud to be able to provide a safe space where Ali feels empowered to express himself freely.
The Switch
I'm from a bright and colourful place
Where I like to put a smile on every face
Life is full of happiness and love
I'm from a great family
Where our home is full of hugs and making delicious food
I'm also from a very dark place
Far away
Where I saw war going on and on
And I saw people dying one by one
I'm from Canada
A happy place now
Where I feel safe
Before the match, 'Caps club legend and ambassador Carl Valentine and Rain City Brigade member Rob Danyluk will be celebrating our Kid Captain in front of fans at BC Place.
