A local youth has turned his passion for soccer into a project that benefits children on campus.
Hajun Chung, a grade 11 student at UHill Secondary School, founded Acadia Youth Soccer Camp, a free kids’ soccer camp, when he was just 14-years-old.
Chung says the idea came to him as a grade 9 student in 2022, when he noticed a lot of neighbourhood kids playing soccer at the field outside the Acadia Park Commonsblock. “They didn’t have proper equipment, but I could see they had real talent,” he said.
Chung loves soccer. He’s been playing since he was a younger child, and has gone on to play on a competitive team. Watching kids kick the ball around, he thought they deserved the opportunity to play with the same type of proper equipment and coaching that he had benefitted from.
He brought his idea for a soccer camp to the people behind the UBC Inspired Inspiring Community Grant, which is managed by UBC Campus and Community Planning.
The grant program supports community projects from local applicants with funding of up to $500. According to the website, since 2016, the grant has funded over 200 projects led by students, faculty, staff, and residents of all ages.
With his friends and fellow UHill students Pouria Karimi and Phileo Ip, Chung sent in an application. Two weeks later, they received their grant.
Acadia Youth FC was born.
Chung, along with volunteers Karimi and Ip, lead the camp once a year as coaches. Since 2023, the camp has run for two days in August at the field outside the Acadia Park Commonsblock. From 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., girls and boys aged 6-12 do drills and warm-ups, and practice skills like dribbling, shooting, and passing. They also do scrimmages to practice in a game setting.
The camp is advertised through posters in Acadia Park, which have information about how parents can sign up their children for free for one of the ten available spaces. This year, the camp was held on August 18 and 19.
Chung says people can use their own strengths and passions to contribute to their communities, even as teens.
“I think a lot of people underestimate what teenagers can do if given the chance. This camp is my way of showing that young people can take initiative and create something meaningful.”
“Don’t be scared,” Ip added. “You don’t need experience to turn your passion into a volunteering opportunity or project.”
The next Acadia Youth FC camp will kick off in August 2026.
Campus residents with a community building idea can take a look at the guidelines and project eligibility for community grants at inspired.ubc.ca/communitygrants/.
PERMENIA REA IS A GRADE 8 STUDENT AT IDEAL MINI SCHOOL.