 
Picture: Handing out balls to Iraqi chidren;
photo courtesy of the U.S. Air Force
Bridging Cultures
For children who may harbor a limited understanding of the events that surround them in the midst of war, being given a benevolent gift that they can relate to, a soccer ball, will make a lasting impression on their young lives for years to come. This operation is important now more than ever in the regions of Iraq and Afghanistan as the United States is leading the effort to rebuild infrastructure and stabilize dangerous regions. A gesture of goodwill and cultural understanding in the manner of handing out soccer balls to the youth encourages trust within the communities where so much violence rules daily life. During this phase of the OPERATION ENDURING FREEDOM reconstruction process, when men and women of the U.S. military hand a child from a war torn country a ball to play with, the gesture can be seen as a sign of peace and camaraderie; an olive branch extended to children who are so often overlooked in the process of stabilization and reconstruction.
Helping Both Sides
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is a common condition in both the children we aim to help, as well as the military personnel whom we depend on to the deliver the balls.
Research for PTSD is on the cutting edge of science.
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder that some people develop after seeing or living through an event that caused or threatened serious harm or death. Symptoms include flashbacks or bad dreams, emotional numbness, intense guilt or worry, angry outbursts, or feeling 'on edge'.
To aid those who suffer with PTSD, Balls Without Borders, Inc. (BWB) is supporting PTSD-focused research, and related studies on anxiety and fear, to find better ways of helping people cope with trauma, as well as better ways to treat and ultimately prevent the disorder.
While we are pursuing our goal to make the lives of children affected by armed conflict or natural disasters happier and also to contribute to the well-being and understanding of veterans, our purpose also is to raise awareness of PTSD by contributing a percentage of our donations to local community medical facilities conducting research & education on the prevention, understanding, and treatment of PTSD.
More information about PTSD can be obtained online at:
The National Center for PTSD (NCPTSD)/ Wikipedia
Please check it out and do your part, just click on link below.
White Harte F.C. will be hosting a day long charity drive for Balls Without Borders (TBA) date at White Harte Pub.
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