RAISED: $15k

While U.S. Marine Jeremy Piasecki was stationed in Afghanistan, he wanted to share the sport he grew up playing in Southern California – water polo – with the Afghan soliders and community he was serving.  Of course, in a country with only twelve pools in total, none of which are Olympic size, the success of such a vision was in doubt.

But like all Marines, Piasecki simply would not be deterred from his objective. After many months of locating and filling usable swimming pools, and recruiting, conditioning and training athletes from among the few in the country who could swim, the Afghanistan National Water Polo Team selected its first members.

Today, officially sanctioned by the Afghanistan Olympic Committee, the Afghanistann National Water Polo team is preparing for an historic first training trip to Southern California in the fall and winter of 2011-12.  Carrying with them a dream of qualifying for the 2016 Olympic games, these young athletes will learn from and contribute to host communities in Southern Califonia.  While bonding as a team and gaining a wider perspective on the western world, they will take their first steps toward representing their country – one deserving of more positive athlete role models – in international competition.

Please help us by telling your friends about us using the social media buttons above, hosting an athlete, buying some official gear, making a donation, or becoming a corporate sponsor.