Meet the 2022 Courageous Use of Sport Award Winners

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Around the world, incredible young leaders are helping shape the communities we want to live in. For the sixth consecutive year, Beyond Sport and global entertainment leader, WWE, are celebrating inspirational young people who are thriving in the face of adversity and positively impacting their communities. Today, we’re thrilled to announce the 2022 recipients of the Courageous Use of Sport Award, presented by WWE.

Residing in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and India, the five exceptional young leaders are using an array of sports – from soccer to American football to golf – to advocate for refugee inclusion, refugees, women and girls, mental health, people with disabilities and youth development.

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MEET THE WINNERS:

Jaafar Alzaidi, 18, United States

At the age of 12, Jaafar and his family were forced to flee their home in Baghdad, Iraq due to war. After relocating to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania they had to face a new set of challenges being refugees. Jafaar was bullied because of his language barrier and heritage and was even called a terrorist by his teacher. However, he responded to these oppositions with resilience, positivity and courage.

He worked hard to learn English and joined a soccer team at his school, which led him to become a football coach at FC Max Myers after just two years. Jafaar now teaches sport and educational lessons to children and young people in Oxford Circle, a community with a large immigrant population. As a refugee himself, Jafaar understands the struggles that come from adapting to a new country. He focuses to teach his participants how to overcome these challenges with on-the-field lessons. As a role model and inspiration to others, Jafaar is on a mission to channel his experiences into helping his community through soccer.

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Paris McLeggan-Milner, 18, United Kingdom

Paris’ childhood was marked by domestic violence, homelessness and poverty. Coming from an area with a high crime rate, she also had to deal with losing her two closest friends last year. This took a toll on her mental health, which was exacerbated by the pandemic. However, she found a purpose in life through sport and began defining her own future when she was introduced to BigKid Foundation.

Paris continued to break gender barriers within sports despite being told that she couldn’t play American football. She joined the South London Renegades – initially as the only girl on the team but later persuaded two other girls to join. Paris is passionate about encouraging young women to get into the sport and hopes to inspire others when she’s on the field.

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Richard Palmer Thomas, 16, Canada

Richard is of Musqueam descent, an indigenous group native to British Columbia in Canada. Growing up he experienced racism and bullying – from both inside and outside his community. However, he took this negativity and showed great resilience to work even harder.

A love of soccer and service to others drove him to become a youth ambassador, coach and mentor with Hope and Health. After five years, Richard remains a consistent inspiration to his participants and was recently selected as the goalkeeper to represent British Columbia at the North American Indigenous Games. After experiencing first-hand the challenges that come with being of Indigenous descent, Richard motivates his peers, other leaders and younger generations, advocating for cultural acceptance, equality and respect.

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Saba Khan, 21, India

Saba comes from a very conservative community in Mumbai, India, where girls are provided with very limited opportunities in education and sport. Despite this, Saba fought hard for her education and her right to play.

With a passion for gender equality and to have an impact on the next generation, she joined the OSCAR Foundation as a young leader to teach football and life skills to adolescent girls. Recognizing that women of all ages face limitations, often constrained by household obligations and societal bias, Saba created Walking Soccer, a more inclusive version of the game for women aged 18 to 50.

Passionate about giving girls opportunities she didn’t have, Saba also uses her platform to encourage mothers to let their daughters have access to education and sport – advocating for systemic change for generations to come.

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Warren Clark, 22, United Kingdom

To escape a violent partner, Warren’s mum fled with her son to a women’s refuge. At the age of ten, Warren – who has autism and learning disabilities – started volunteering at a local golf center where he discovered his love for the game.

At 17, he joined Team Great Britain at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi. And in 2019, was the only British athlete selected as an Ambassador for the Games in recognition of his dedication to inclusion, acceptance and unity. Warren founded his own charity, Warren Clark Golfing Dreams Limited, to help thousands of other disabled and disadvantaged youths feel included and reap the social as well as physical benefits of the sport. To date, Warren has taught golf to many, many people – sharing the pleasure and benefit he found through the sport with others.

“I overcame my difficult situation and life of adversity when I found my love for golf. I love giving others the great benefits that golf has given me, including friendships, improved concentration and confidence,” he said.

Over the next few weeks, tune in across Beyond Sport and WWE’s platforms to learn more about our young leaders and help spread their messages on the power of sport with intention.