Giving back to the world through the game they love, members of the Colorado College women's soccer program have helped make an impact globally during the last year.

Former Tiger captain Katlin Okamoto joined Soccer Without Borders (www.soccerwithoutborders.org), based in San Francisco, Calif., as director of girls programs shortly after graduating from CC in 2007. Since then, Okamoto has sought the support of her former teammates in the non-profit organization's mission  – to promote gender equality and provide recreational activities for girls who very seldom are encouraged to play sports.

The team enthusiastically has supported the initiative, recognizing the invaluable role sports can play in the physical and social development of girls. Last year, Tiger Soccer contributed a large amount of gear now being used in long-term girls' programs in Monze, Zambia and Granada, Nicaragua.

Last spring in Nicaragua, assistant coach April Kater and CC alum Lucy Thompson joined Okamoto and a team of other college coaches and players for an all-girls soccer camp and coaches training. The weeklong program was extremely successful and will take place again next year.

Colorado College's support for the Soccer Without Borders initiative has kick-started a trend with many women's programs around the country. University teams from every region have donated equipment or contributed financially to various SWB projects and programs. This common interest has created the unique opportunity for student-athletes from different schools to collaborate in bringing soccer to underprivileged communities.  Coaches and players from Lehigh University and Penn State, as well as from CC, were part of the first all-girls camp last spring.

Colorado College's partnership with SWB continues this fall when the Tigers host a Soccer Without Borders Weekend during their games against Conference USA rivals UAB (Alabama-Birmingham) on Friday, Oct. 3, and the University of Memphis on Sunday, Oct. 5. Information on SWB will be available throughout the weekend, and an equipment and donation drive will be held in conjunction with the games. 

All proceeds from the SWB Weekend will support the ongoing girl's program in Nicaragua. In addition, CC hopes to build on this year's successful camp by sending representatives of the current team to take part in another weeklong camp next spring.

About Soccer Without Borders: Soccer Without Borders is a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California. SWB strives to use soccer as a vehicle for positive change in the lives of marginalized youth.  SWB works locally and internationally to help young people develop their bodies, voices and minds. There currently are project sites in El Salvador, Nicaragua, Uganda, Zambia and Oakland, Calif.

About the Nicaragua Girls Program: SWB began working in Granada in 2006 and developed a girls specific soccer program there in spring 2008. Granada representative, Humberto 'Chepe' Largaespada, supervises the ongoing SWB programming along with professional player and coach, Carlos Zambrana, through out the year.  The girls program was launched in 2008 out of a need to provide more soccer opportunities for girls and promote self-esteem and confidence. 

For more information on Soccer Without Borders, contact info@soccerwithoutborders.org or visit the Web site at www.soccerwithoutborders.org.