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Moresports Personality ProfilesMaura: Her Mother's Daughter Maura Iraqi
Rice and chicken
Social Studies
Hip Hop, Jazz
Going swimming, playing outside with my little brother (Hajahre, 5).
A teacher or daycare person.
The community centre for their holiday programs.
I like it because it's fun to play in. And I like to skate and I'm going snowboarding in two weeks.
I've only known Maura for a few months but it didn't take long for me to take notice. She definitely stands out. With a sharp, witty sense of humour and a ferocious competitive nature she manages to hold her own quite happily among the boys with whom she plays all kinds of sports. She's been involved with MoreSports for a while now and I imagine she will continue to be. She already helps out as a leader to younger kids and is currently volunteering her time with an older sister who coaches a younger girls' soccer team. In an environment where it's tough for kids to get by Maura finds a way to excel, all with a big smile on her face.
She's a talented young girl and all she needs is someone to support her all the way. She's a great kid, a great person, and a great athlete.
Maura
The lead for this profile came via email from MoreSports Inner City Hub coordinator Dolphin Kasper. He suggested I talk to Maura, 10, whom he described as "a nice, strong-headed girl who manages to hold her own in a very challenging environment." Challenging, that is, because 10-year-old Maura plays with the boys soccer and basketball teams in that hub. When meeting Maura and her mother, Asma, it was immediately clear Maura takes after her mom. Both are friendly, warm, soft-spoken, and gentle souls. Dolphin noted Maura's inner-strength and Asma's was instantly apparent to me. It was the range and depth I could see in her eyes. Asma, 49, is an inspirational person; hers is a touching personal story that she's chosen to keep private. But, I think she'll let me tell you this much: like many parents who immigrate to Canada or come as refugees, Asma's and her husband Younis' lives have taken a hit. Learning a new language and trying to find employment without fluent English makes their daily life here a struggle. "A person feels homesick because you cannot bring your whole family here and things here are very different," Asma says. There are other stressors as well. Most people here have been respectful and caring. But, people can be unkind and some have been to Asma, her husband and her children so she is protective of their story and wishes she didn't feel she that has to be. Struggling to build a new life in a foreign country is just one of the difficult choices such parents make so that their kids can have better lives. And Asma's children are doing well. Her face breaks into a proud, easy smile as we talk about Maura, her siblings and the sports they love to play. Maura was born here and started playing soccer when she was seven. MoreSports coach James Naknakin, who is also profiled on this site, lives in the same housing complex as Maura. He suggested she join the fun. Today, James coaches Maura's soccer and basketball teams. Asma was enthusiastic when Maura said she wanted to join MoreSports: "I like it because it makes kids busy because otherwise they can get into trouble," she says. "Kids, they learn from friends, everything, to smoke, and other things. If kids do something bad they will do it too. But if she plays soccer she can learn something." Asma trusts the supervision in the program and says, "The sports are good for (Maura's) health. If you don't play sports you don't have energy. At least that is what I believe." Maura's brother Araz, 11, encouraged her to join MoreSports and she did. Now, they're on the same soccer and basketball teams, and she's working to catch up to his skills. She says Araz has the most sports talent in a family full of athletes. "He just made the provincial basketball team," Maura beams, "I'm proud of him." Brother Ayad, 18, referees basketball for community leagues, sister Rohani, 17, plays school basketball, and brother Ayas, 13, does as well. Maura says MoreSports "is fun and teaches you how to play and gets you active," but she recalls being a little shy about playing her first day. "It was weird and embarrassing because everyone is looking at you," she says, but it was "better at the end (of the day) because of getting to know more people." "Playing sports with them made it easier for me," Maura says. And, no one should worry about those first few minutes on the first day. "It doesn't matter," she says, "because it's just for having fun." Being the only girl on her team doesn't bother Maura either. "I don't care what the other team says about me being the only girl on the team. I say, 'I don't care, it's fun.' They think they can check me right away, but they can't really because I fake it and pass to someone," she giggles. Her mother grins: "Maura has a very good attitude. She doesn't care what people say and she says that it's their problem. She's good at school and helps other kids. That's what her teacher tells me." Maura says she's gained confidence from playing sports, and it's made her like sports more. She even watches basketball on TV though she has no favorite team. When she's older Maura "probably will coach a younger team or ref a younger team." "(Coaches) teach you how to play more sports and have fun while you're playing," she says, "They teach you a lot and they're really nice." So nice that she has a message for James: "Thank you for being a good coach and teaching us a lot of stuff." As the two were leaving my office Asma invited me to their home to visit sometime soon, and Maura welcomed other kids to join MoreSports and then to "just keep on playing." Maura, she really is her mother's daughter. |
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