Sammamish woman rallies support for low-income, immigrant youth soccer club
Sammamish resident Bushra Bajwa, 42, attends a lot of youth soccer, but one game in particular inspired her to rally support for an organization of strangers. This fall, when her son played against a team from Seattle-based AC Pacifico, Bajwa immediately noticed the players’ overwhelming talent, but also their lacking equipment. After learning about the soccer club’s mission and values, Bajwa coordinated two supply drives and hopes to do even more to help further the soccer club’s impact.
AC Pacifico provides affordable soccer training for youth from low-income immigrant families. They aim to foster a love of soccer, regardless of background or income.
“For AC Pacifico to provide this club to immigrants who can’t afford to play but have the talent, I think, is just such a wonderful thing that they’re doing, and I wanted to do whatever I could to support that,” Bajwa said.
When she first saw the team, Bajwa recalled, some players had torn shoes, broken cleats, and little to no protective gear. Through her efforts, Bajwa collected over 30 pairs of cleats, over a dozen shin guards, a sideline bench, a gazebo, several sports clothes, soccer balls, toiletries, and energy bars for the club.
Bajwa spread awareness about the club’s needs through her connections with her son’s soccer club as well as local Facebook and WhatsApp groups and her own business, The Plum Path Fitness.
For Bajwa, the club’s focus on cultivating sportsmanship within its players was a fresh contrast to the soccer environment she has come to see as normal around Sammamish.
“I think especially with youth sports, it should be more about passion, building good sportsmanship values. And here, I just see a lot of shouting parents, disrespect toward referees, so I think seeing this as a different kind of game than we were used to playing, that really spoke out to me,” Bajwa said.
Lars Kaser, 17, is a co-captain for one of AC Pacifico’s teams. He appreciates Bajwa’s work in supporting the club’s goals.
“This can really go a long way for kids who are priced out of high level soccer in Western Washington,” Kaser said.
Bajwa attributes the fundraiser’s success to the Sammamish community’s ability and willingness to give during a time of need.
“There were people who came up to me and they said, ‘You know, my son doesn’t play soccer or we don’t have the right size shoes but we want to help,’ and they had gone out and bought new stuff for [AC Pacifico], so that just shows that there are some wonderful people in the area,” Bajwa said.
These supply drives are not a one-time effort for Bajwa. She hopes to continue supporting AC Pacifico however she can.
“As long as AC Pacifico are okay, I will bug them and keep doing it and giving them more stuff,” Bajwa said.
AC Pacifico club owner Garrett Patterson is grateful for Bajwa’s support. He has seen firsthand her impact on the young players.
“Her dedication to the players and this club is astonishingly surprising. I am amazed by Bushra and how she is spearheading this campaign to help those she has really never met. Her warmth is felt by the kids who themselves are immensely grateful,” Patterson said.
To learn more about AC Pacifico and contribute a donation, click here.
