Nine Huskie soccer players spent the summer in Rwanda as part of NIU and Humanity for Children’s Turanyi Project volunteer program.

The Turanyi Project is using “soccer as a tool to keep kids in school while developing self-discipline, non-violent ways of handling conflict and HIV/AIDS prevention strategies,” according to a July 31 press release.

NIU soccer players spent the 2017-18 school year collecting donations of cleats, shin guards, soccer balls and uniforms for the children, and spent time in Rwanda going to schools and checking out the differences in ways of living.

“The main goal of this trip was to educate the Rwandan youth about the importance of staying in school and to get a good education,” said senior midfielder Max Voss in the press release. “In order to motivate the kids to stay in school, we wanted to use soccer as a bridge. We had some soccer clinics with kids where we showed them some skills, but more importantly educated them about the importance of being a respectful and good teammate.”

Voss was accompanied by senior forward Adrian Coardos and junior forward Jan Maertins from the men’s team, and junior midfielder Kelsey Chope, senior defender Taylor Fuderer, junior Abby Gregg, senior Delaney Loprieno, junior Grace Louis and senior Natalia Pena from the women’s team.

“I expected it to be us giving to them, based on what I know about the poverty that they live in and seeing the poverty that they live in, but oftentimes in felt very different than that,” Gregg said. “We were being given food, we were given hospitality. Just overall incredibly generous people and I didn’t expect that going in.”

The equipment collected was left with the Kazo Futball Academy, a Rwandan school dedicated to using soccer to teach local children self discipline and allow them to focus on school along with the sport.

“I think for everyone that got to go, we got first hand experience to see the joy these kids had and it really reintroduced the joy I have for the game,” Gregg said. “Having our teammates learn what it looks like to be a soccer player on the other side of the world.”

Humans for Charity is a non-profit organization based in Fulton, Mizz. focused on empowering individuals in East Africa, according to humanityforchildren.org.

“For the kids, the family members, the Kazo Futbol Academy and the villages,” said Jack Mathis, an assistant men’s soccer coach who accompanied the players on the trip. “I think they will remember us for the rest of their lives and surely we remember them as well.”