Liberia

From “How Soccer Explains Leadership” podcast with David Irby, CEO of Surge Soccer

Wonder why we do soccer? Why it matters? Check out David Irby’s recent conversation with howsoccerexplainsleadership.com. Bringing Hope Discover the powerful story of a Christian soccer team risking everything to bring hope and unity to war-torn Sudan—an inspiring testament to faith, courage, and reconciliation. Leadership Leadership, often overlooked in coaching, is now my focus. Inspired by a podcast and coaching in Liberia, I emphasize vision and empathy as key to building cohesive, inspired teams. Full Transcript from Podcast: Do Hard Things in Hard Places with David Irby, CEO of Surge …

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Revolutionizing Education in Liberia: Soccer as a Tool for Literacy

In Liberia, a country where the scars of civil war are still visible in every aspect of society, the need for educational reform is more pressing than ever. With a significant portion of the population under the age of 16 and an alarming number of teachers unable to read, the future of Liberia’s youth hangs in the balance. At Surge Soccer, we are tackling this challenge head-on through an innovative approach that combines the power of soccer with the crucial need for literacy education. Our mission is simple yet ambitious: …

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Training the Next Generation of Sports Ministers: Surge Soccer’s Liberia Internship Program

At Surge Soccer, we believe in the transformative power of sports—not just as a game but as a ministry that can change lives and communities. Our commitment to this vision has led us to establish the Liberia Internship Program, a unique initiative designed to equip the next generation of sports ministers with the skills, knowledge, and spiritual foundation they need to make a lasting impact. This program is a critical part of our mission in Liberia, where the need for leadership, mentorship, and positive role models is more urgent than …

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Expanding Our Reach: Surge Soccer in Liberia

Surge Soccer has long been a beacon of hope, using the world’s most popular sport as a tool for outreach, development, and transformation. In recent years, one of our most impactful ventures has been in the heart of West Africa—Liberia. What began as a single trip to this post-conflict nation has blossomed into a full-scale operation, serving as a hub for our efforts across the continent. The journey of Surge Soccer in Liberia is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and the universal language of soccer. Our introduction …

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From the Field: Stories of Impact from Liberia

At Surge Soccer, every day on the field brings new stories of hope, resilience, and transformation. Our work in Liberia, a country still healing from the ravages of civil war, is filled with moments that remind us of the incredible impact soccer can have on individuals and communities. These stories are not just about the game—they are about lives changed, futures shaped, and hope restored. As we continue our mission in Liberia, we are excited to share some of the inspiring stories from the field that highlight the difference we …

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Heading Back to Liberia Thursday

I’m making my fourth trip to Liberia on Thursday to assist with football development along with our education and trauma relief specialists. (September 12-23)  (30 hours of travel each way,  lol) Top of the list is the seminar I will be giving for approximately 68 football trainers (grassroots & academy) and observation & consulting with the U17 & U20 Boys National Teams. Meetings with: the Liberia Football Association, Ministry of Youth and Sports, Beautiful Beginnings School (our pilot/partner school for grassroots football), and Elite Teacher Training. We will also host …

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Liberia’s Fatherless Generation: How Surge Soccer is Making a Difference

In Liberia, a country still grappling with the aftermath of two brutal civil wars, the scars of conflict run deep. Among the most tragic legacies of these wars is a generation of children who have grown up without fathers—often referred to as Liberia’s “fatherless generation.” This demographic, which makes up more than half of the nation’s population under the age of 16, faces a daunting future with limited access to education, mentorship, and positive role models. At Surge Soccer, we are committed to addressing this urgent need by using the …

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Liberia is Next! ~ September 12-23

Please read the attached letter and as always we appreciate your prayers and financial support. sharing hope through soccer, Dave Irby

Updates on an intern, Massa, BBS2, and Ollie

Winifred, one of the Liberia Christian Leadership interns, is such an exciting story to watch as God writes across her life. She is the one intern who has a mentor/sponsor, and she is growing, using the skills she has learned through Surge Soccer, and applying them to the pursuit of the goal God has placed on her heart-opening a pregnancy center in Monrovia, Liberia. Here are a few excerpts from her latest communication with her sponsor/mentor: Thanks for always supporting me in this journey I have started for the future …

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Revolutionizing Reading in Liberia

“Revolutionizing Reading in Liberia” discusses Surge Soccer’s initiative to improve literacy among Liberian youth through soccer-based educational programs. It highlights the challenges faced by the education system in Liberia and showcases the impact of combining sports with learning. The program uses soccer to engage children and incorporate reading and educational activities, aiming to foster a love for learning and improve literacy rates.

Surge Soccer Liberia – 2023 Summary Report

Surge Soccer Liberia appreciates God almighty for his gift of life and many opportunities he had given us to work for his kingdom purpose. We also extend our thanks and appreciation to Surge International Board members and all others who contributed towards the growth and development of Surge Soccer Liberia throughout last year 2023. This report summarizes all of our activities as it relates to the following programs and financial breakdown.  During the course of the year (2023) it was agreed that we have an online meeting once every month …

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Year End + Matching Grant 4 Liberia + Anaheim + UN Conference

Dear Friends, MEET OUR LIBERIAN INTERNS IN THE ATTACHMENT Many years ago we received a $30,000 matching grant. This Year End matching grant is a mere $3,000 — but what an impact your prayers and year end donations can have in Liberia. We are starting a Christian Leadership Training program and have five young Liberians ready to GO! We appreciate the Year End Gifts we have already received and we are praying for a few more so we can start the new year in Liberia with a Bang! Imagine for …

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Surge International Launch New Leadership Program in Liberia

We are pleased to announce our new Leadership Internship Program in Liberia. Set to launch in November the concept took shape on our most recent trip from the US to Liberia when Roberta Reed (our education specialist) spent time with Winnifred, one of our Surge Liberia volunteers. Since our first trip to Liberia in February 2022 we have now made 4 trips to Liberia. Surge Soccer Liberia has been officially launched and we have grown from two Liberian staff members to a total of nine staff and volunteers. With the …

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Sammy Surge visits the  Praise Academy Solid Foundation School

Today Sammy Surge and team visited the Praise Academy Solid Foundation School located in a slum in Liberia. 150 children and staff were on hand for Sammy’s presentation of study hard, play fair, help others. This school is located in a slum community. This school is a primary school with 150 students between the ages of 5-15 years. The school has 10 staffs including teachers and administrative staff.

Lotz November Update – Liberia trip 

Thank you for praying for Al’s recent trip to Liberia. Looking at our prayer requests, I’m happy to report answered prayer forall: Safety in travel Good health Clarity in teaching Open hearts However, there were still a few snags on the trip that made it fairly stressful. Al was writing things out as it was happening in order to have documentation for our dealings with the airline, so I’ll copy and paste some of that here.

Liberia – November 2022

We are so grateful to be working in Liberia and for our Liberian friends, but we have found it hard to get to Liberia.  On November 8th this was our note “Please pray for my friend & colleague Al Lotz as he is stranded in Ghana. He was on his was to teach at a conference in Liberia. He flew from Atlanta to New York to Accra, Ghana and is now stranded due to a strike. No word on when he can get out! On our four trips we have experienced multiple flight cancelations & delays! “ But …

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Liberia update and things to pray about (Visit with Amos Gayflor)

Good morning! Thank you for praying for Liberia and for the Liberian people. Please pray specifically for Ollie at this time. Her older brother died this past week. Here is an encouraging, inspirational, and thoughtful video of Amos Gayflor, chief of one of the Liberian tribes, and dedicated to spreading the word of God throughout Africa. What amazing people we met in Liberia, and now you can meet them through the videos! The new technology made a huge difference in our second Cross-Cultural Professional Learning Community meeting! Thank you! It …

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Beautiful Beginnings School & Darius

Good morning and best wishes as you head into the Labor Day weekend. Thank you for your continued prayers for Liberia and for Beautiful Beginnings School. Monday, September 5, is the first day of the new school year with students! Such an exciting time of possibilities. Here is Ollie with the 2022/2023 PTO Board. The two modems have been purchased and installed, so our next Cross-Cultural Professional Learning Community meeting on Friday, September 9, should have better connectivity. Thank you. Ollie has been traveling and leading back to back professional …

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