Mark A. Cadiz - Multimedia Journalist
www.markacadiz.com
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-My greater intentions with this project is to explore the sociological difficulties of young visible immigrants and further understand how their attempts to fit into western culture develops into a part of their assimilated identity-
‘Free Camp’ is an open inner city soccer program focused on Tibeten youth in the Greater Toronto Area. Led and organized by Sonam Wangyal, a Tibetan immigrant himself, was all too familiar with the daily challenges the youth would face.
Most of the youth in the program were from exiled communities in India and Nepal and have arrived within the last decade. Sonam wanted to provide guidance for the recent arrivals providing them with a sense of camaraderie along with some much needed mentorship.
Through sport, Sonam believes, the teens will learn about hard work, commitment, and dedication easing their western transition,and most importantly keeping them off the streets and out of trouble. Much so that he has voluntarily dedicated his time as coach and acts as a full-time role model in a serious initiative that he believes will give back ten-fold.
Recently “Free Camp’ has received great feedback from the local Tibetan community and Parkdale neighbourhood. - Story in progress.
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Toronto ON, Canada - Local members of the Tibetan community protesting the inequalities and restricted media access in Tibet.
