In case you missed it yesterday, CBS Sunday Morning featured a story about Luma Mufleh, whose life is the inspiration for this year’s UTC First Year Reading Experience (FYRE) book Outcasts United. The Sunday Morning piece “War, Soccer, and the American Dream” discusses Mufleh’s work with refugee children and the positive impact on her suburban Atlanta community.
Mufleh, originally from Jordan, took a wrong turn one day and discovered a group of refugee children playing soccer. They didn’t have the proper equipment so she quickly returned and provided them with a new ball, among other things. This turned into a team that she dubbed the Fugees, short for refugees. While coaching her team, she realized that the children were struggling to keep up with their peers in the local schools. So she quit her job and dedicated her life to helping them achieve an education through the founding of the Fugees Academy. This school helps the refugee children meet their unique needs such as reading and language difficulties, character development, and cultural awareness. She has purchased 19 acres of land which is the future home of the school for grades 6 through 12. Finally, Mufleh’s students observed her becoming an American citizen in an emotional ceremony.
View the full story over at CBS.