Life Skills for a Better World Through Soccer
Coaches Across Continents (CAC) is a global leader in the sport for social impact movement. They partner with local organizations to implement an award-winning ‘Hat-Trick Initiative’ that focuses on local social issues such as: female empowerment, including gender equity; conflict resolution, including social inclusion; health and wellness, including HIV behavior change; and other life skills.
After playing soccer for Boston College and earning an undergraduate degree and Masters in Education, Brian Suskiewicz earned a USSF ‘A’ License while coaching university soccer at Washington & Lee, Bucknell, Hofstra, and UH-Hilo. Brian first volunteered with CAC in South Africa in 2010, joined full-time in 2012, and then was promoted to Chief Executive in 2013.
SoccerToday recently interviewed Suskiewicz about how CAC uses soccer to educate coaches and players around the world by enabling communities to create lasting social change through sport.
Carrie Taylor: What is Coaches Across Continents?
Brian Suskiewicz: CAC is a non-government organization that was formed in 2008 by Nick Gates. It is registered both in the U.S. and the U.K. Coaches Across Continents is a global leader in sport for social impact movement. Our key to success is a unique self-directed learning model that is based on our ‘Chance to Choice’ curriculum.
Carrie Taylor: Who are its partners?
Brian Suskiewicz: Last year CAC worked with 74 community partner programs in 26 countries. We select partners based on their desire to use sport as a vehicle for social change. This year we plan on working with 88 communities in 28 countries.
Carrie Taylor: What does CAC do?
Brian Suskiewicz: We commit to a 3 year partnership with our partners, we call it the “Hat Trick Initiative.” We want a lasting impact. When we work with our partners, we utilize our sport for social impact curriculum. Soccer based games are adjusted to address local social needs. The local partner is then able to implement this curriculum and have a lasting social change on their community by working directly with children within their community. Last year, CAC educated 3,157 coaches around the world who impacted a further 280, 396 children.
Carrie Taylor: Where are you based? And who is the founder?
Brian Suskiewicz: In 2008 Nick Gates founded CAC. Nick is a former Harvard University graduate, former England U-18 International, and was a business executive at Middlesbrough in the EPL in 2004. CAC is registered in the U. S. and UK as a non-profit/charity. We work with local partnerships across the world, in 2008 we worked with 1 country, Tanzania, and in 7 years we have had partnerships with 28 countries across the world, including Cambodia, Uganda, Brazil, Mexico to name a few.
Carrie Taylor: Why was CAC started?
Brian Suskiewicz: It was set up because soccer/football is a global sport. And specifically for its unifying nature. Sport can be incredibly powerful when used correctly. CAC was designed as an instrument of social change. Our curriculum and concept of working with local partners over a three year period to create social changes has allowed for our success.
Carrie Taylor: How can people volunteer or get more information if they want to get involved or donate? What have some of your volunteers said about the CAC?
Brian Suskiewicz: We have multiple volunteer opportunities for people to travel and help teach our curriculum. Our website can give an overview and we also have a documentary about our partner in Cambodia:
“Many of our youth sports “problems” that we deal with are really first world issues, such as lack of playing time, or a kid getting cut from a team. I am traveling with Coaches Across Continents because they are impacting kids around the globe who are facing real difficulties, such as starvation, war, severe disabilities, and more. Through soccer, we are giving children a voice, giving young women the courage to be heard, and giving kids a reason to dream. CAC is using the beautiful game as a way to make a huge impact. It is an honor and a privilege to be going to Cambodia with CAC in August. I hope this awareness will encourage others to get involved either as donors or volunteers in the future. You won’t only change a child’s life; you will change your own.” – John O’Sullivan, author of Changing the Game and CAC Volunteer
Make a donation of at least $100 and not only will you be changing the lives of young females during the 2015 Women’s World Cup, but your name will be entered into the filmed draw for an autographed USWNT 1999 shirt to take place on July 5th. Donate Today!
