Bringing a Toronto Neighbourhood Together Through Soccer

Soccer is the world’s most popular sport, a simple game in terms of equipment – only requiring a ball, a place to play and others who love The Beautiful Game. Its simplicity is its beauty.

Just south of the Jane and Finch neighbourhood in Toronto is The Salvation Army Yorkwoods Community Church that has a long history of running outreach programs for youth in need of academic support or assistance overcoming any number of life’s challenges.

The Yorkwoods Community Church offers taekwondo instruction and has a brass band for anyone between the ages 8-12, but there were no programs for those in the age bracket of 13-18, an age group that is at a high risk of joining a gang, experimenting with drugs, or encountering issues with racism.

To fill that gap, Captain Dae-Gun Kim proposed a sports outreach ministry using soccer to connect young people from a neighbourhood with a reputation of guns, gangs and violence. The program received a $40,000 Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda Territory Innovation Grant to run Sport Outreach Ministry for Youth. The team is christened The Miracles, representing the positive, supportive and encouraging environment meant to keep young people from falling in with the wrong crowd.

“Sports is universal – it builds teamwork, dedication and leadership skills and can be a platform to engage with youth and help them with any struggles they may face,” said Captain Dae-Gun Kim.

“Our community is predominately new Canadians, and soccer is the sport preferred by youth in the Jane and Finch neighbourhood, so for us, developing this program with a sport in mind that everyone could get involved in was essential.”

The goal is to create a safe space through sport where players can socialize, build friendships and lasting personal relationships, develop social and interpersonal skills and other healthy behaviours to take with them into adulthood.

“This is a great foundation to build upon while sharing the Gospel and building trusting relationships, which allow us to improve their lives through mentoring and discipleship,” Captain Kim says. “We are hoping that we can be a miracle for the community.”