Ujima Soccer Academy

10/02/2026

Thankful for this team! Our work would be impossible without them!!

10/02/2026

Coach Keith on the importance of being present.

09/28/2026

When Verite came out for soccer at Vine Middle, he showed up in a hoodie, jeans, and Crocs. He was a sixth grader who'd recently arrived to our community and soccer was his passion.

We quickly saw something in him. We helped connect Verite with an opportunity to play club soccer, and he kept working.

As a freshman at Austin East, not only did he join the starting 11, he was also named to the All-District Team. He's also competing at the very highest level of youth soccer on One Knoxville's MLS Next U16 team.

But that’s not really the point of this story.

Most of the kids who come through Ujima will never play professional soccer. That isn’t our goal. Our goal is to create opportunities. To help young people discover what they’re capable of. To surround them with people who believe in them, raise their expectations, and encourage them to imagine a bigger future for themselves — on the field, in the classroom, and in life.

For Verite, soccer has opened some remarkable doors. For another student, the door might lead somewhere completely different.

That’s why Ujima exists.

Our One Student. One Season. $100. campaign has raised $5,255 so far. Every $100 helps us provide soccer, academic support, healthy snacks, mentoring, equipment, and transportation — all at no cost to our students and families.

We don’t know where every opportunity will lead. We just want to make sure our kids get one. Would you join us? 💚⚽

To invest, click the link in our bio.

09/27/2026

Helene disagrees. 😂

09/23/2026

Our team is growing! 💚

Lady Vol Sydney Segalla has joined the Ujima team! Read the full story at the link in our bio.

09/22/2026

Join us in wishing a very Happy Birthday to Ujima's Dr. Jay A Butler! 🥳🎉🎂

09/22/2026

💚⚽ WE’RE HALFWAY THERE!

52 generous donors have given $5,255 to help sponsor students for a season with Ujima!

When we launched this campaign, we set a big goal:

100 students. $100 each. $10,000.

And now we’re officially more than halfway there.

THANK YOU to everyone who has given, shared, texted a friend, or helped us spread the word. This only works because people believe in our students and invite others to join them.

Now we need to find the next 48 people. 💚

One Student. One Season. $100.

Will you help us keep going?

https://givebutter.com/ujima-qecc2b

By Community Shares Inc

09/22/2026

Join us in bringing Kristopher back home.

Bring Kristopher Betanco back home to Sevierville

09/18/2026

Our dream has always been to produce the kind of leaders who are eager to return and invest in the generation coming behind them. We’re so excited to have Julius Schoenbach-Lee back on the field! 💚

09/17/2026

Maddie got her first goal on Monday! 💪