5 for Good: AmeriCorps volunteer workers help Guinean migrants connect through soccer [Video]

CONNECTIONS THROUGH SPORT. EVEN ON A SWELTERING DAY, THESE TWO MAKE JUGGLING ON THE COMMON LOOK EFFORTLESS, AND YOU CAN SEE THE JOY IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY OF GUINEA. SOCCER IS JUST PART OF LIFE. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE SOME FRIENDS, IF YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH YOUR FRIENDS, YOU HAVE TO PLAY SOCCER. 25 YEAR OLD MAMADOU AND 19 YEAR OLD AL-SAADI HAVE ONLY KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT SHARE VERY SIMILAR STORIES. BOTH FLED GUINEA, FLEW TO GUATEMALA AND THEN MADE IT TO THE U.S. BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY. I WORK AND TAKE THE BUS. YOU TOOK BUSSES? YEAH. AND YOU WALKED? YEAH. SOMETIMES HORSES. HORSES? YEAH. I CANNOT IMAGINE THAT JOURNEY. YEAH. IN MEXICO, THE MAFIA, THEY CATCH US, TAKE OUR MONEY AND PHONES AND EVERYTHING. IT WAS HARD. A MILITARY COUP IN GUINEA IN 2021 RESULTED IN ONGOING ETHNIC AND POLITICAL VIOLENCE. …