A former refugee living in Winnipeg will be helping repay the kindness he experienced after moving to Canada, by extending it to a new generation of Syrian refugee children.
Omar Rahimi, Founder of the Liberty Football Club Soccer Academy, was a refugee when he came to Canada in 2000 with the help of former minister of foreign affairs, Dr. Lloyd Axworthy. Axworthy played a major role in bringing him and other families from the same camp to Canada.
“Dr. Axworthy was instrumental in helping bring my family to Canada,” says Rahimi. “He is responsible for bringing 150 Kurdish families in the Kurdish al Tash desert refugee camp in western Iraq. We will never forget who helped us. I’m very excited to have a chance to help other children who are new to the country.”
The Summer Soccer Series will be held at the University of Winnipeg’s Axworthy Health and RecPlex (350 Spence Streeet) on Saturday, July 16th from 10 am to 1 pm. Syrian refugee children at the event will have an opportunity to attend free workshops and meet potential future mentors. Dr. Axworthy will be attending the camp from 11.30 am to 12.30 pm. Media are welcome.
A fundraising luncheon is being held at the Clarion Hotel on Tuesday, July 12, 2016, from 11:30 to 1:30. p.m. Tickets are $75 each. Proceeds from the luncheon go to support community programming inside the Axworthy Health and RecPlex. Dr. Axworthy will speak at the luncheon.
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The Summer Soccer Series is a fundraising event put on by Lloyd Axworthy and his consulting firm, LAI Group, in addition to the Liberty Football Club Soccer Academy.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Bob Axworthy
(204) 489-0720
