ISSA
Few kids in Edmonton at Issa Abdi’s age have lived in more than one city, let alone more than one country.
The soon-to-be ninth grader at Londonderry Junior High grew up in Kenya, where he lived most of his life before moving to Ethiopia. Three years after that move, civil conflict in Ethiopia, as well as a desire for Issa to grow up with better education prompted his family to move to Edmonton, where his father was working.
The move was difficult for Issa, who didn’t speak English at the time. It was a lonely, isolating time.
"Before I came here, I would say I was a quiet person,” Issa says. “ I used to go whole days without talking to anyone about anything. I didn't go outside. I used to spend the whole time at home."
"When I came here, I wanted to play sports, but I was kind of scared of going outside, so I just stayed home, doing nothing.”
Three years ago, Issa was introduced to Free Play for Kids through his school and everything changed. Issa describes himself as a “multiple-sport player,” he’s especially taken a liking to basketball, and he’s played on one of Free Play’s junior basketball teams.
More importantly though, in Free Play, Issa was finally welcomed into an environment where he felt comfortable coming out of his shell and making new friends.
“I would say I'm not a sad person anymore,” Issa says.
“I talk a lot,” he smiles. “Some people say too much."
This summer, Issa is also working as a junior coach at Free Play’s summer camp for kids ages 8-12, where he plays with, and mentors, the kids as well as supports the senior coaches.
“I’m there for all the kids to have fun,” Issa says.
The social aspect of sports played an enormous part in breaking Issa out of his isolation, and he recognizes the tremendous impact that play has in helping kids socialize and build connections with each other.
"Even if they don't like playing sports,” Issa says, “I would say [they should] come into a big group and learn how to be around other kids, and other people [their] age”.
As an immigrant, Issa can empathize on that front with many other kids in the program, and he’s especially enthusiastic about the “Welcome to Play” program, which organizes sports activities for refugee children and youth.
“What Free Play's doing with it right now, I love it. Being with the kids and them looking up to you, I like that."
“It's like you're watching an egg hatch and then the bird fly,” Issa says of mentoring the kids and nurturing the connections they make.
Issa loves being a mentor to the kids, and he’s excited to keep working with Free Play and is on board to keep helping kids come into their own the same way the program helped him when he needed it.
"I've enjoyed it a lot, and I like having the opportunity to work with the next generation."
Written by Stefan Salegio
