Four years to the day since she first arrived in Belfast, Mary Edonga returned to reunite with the people who helped her to gain confidence, learn English and rebuild her life in her new home. Invited to speak at a conference hosted by the Irish Football Association, she reflected on how sports can support refugees, build friendships and strengthen communities, whilst providing invaluable experiences.
Now a university student in Manchester, Mary was just 18 when she and her younger brother arrived in Belfast from South Sudan in June 2021, seeking safety. As her brother was under 18, he was immediately taken into care, and Mary was placed in a hotel. Her first weeks in the city were lonely and filled with worry for her brother – it was only some weeks later that she discovered he was safe and being looked after.
“That first day I stepped foot in Belfast, it was weird, everything was weird,” Mary recalls. “The weather was cold, even though it was summer. The culture, the language, everything was different for me. I was lonely.
“But everything began to change when she was told about a local football programme for refugees run by Street NI through its Street Soccer initiative.
Read more on Office of the High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
