Their Life's Work
Finding purpose and connection on the field
Since his days as a standout soccer player at Nazareth, Liam Connolly ’12 has witnessed communities and young people on three continents realize their potential through the sport.
by Sally Parker
Liam Connolly ’12 enjoys some time on the soccer field with Safe-Hub Philadelphia, a soccer-based social impact program for boys and girls growing up in the city’s Kensington neighborhood.
In every corner of the planet, sport brings people together — and that’s when the magic happens, says Liam Connolly ’12.
From his childhood as an English-speaking soccer player in Francophone Quebec to his work with youth in South Africa, Connolly has found purpose and connection on the field. Since his days as a standout player at Nazareth, he has witnessed communities and young people on three continents realize their potential through the sport.
Connolly is now the executive director of Safe-Hub Philadelphia, a soccer-based social impact program for boys and girls growing up in the city’s Kensington neighborhood, known as the epicenter of the opioid crisis. Safe-Hub is a program of AMANDLA Social Enterprises, an international social business based in South Africa and focused on creating opportunities for young people. In addition to his duties in Philadelphia, Connolly directs AMANDLA’s global strategic plan to grow Safe-Hub. There are nine Safe-Hub cities in South Africa, and new ones are forming in Germany, India, and the Ivory Coast.
“Sport is a low-barrier entry to a trust-building form of engagement,” Connolly says. “Using sport as a starting point for community development puts everyone on the same level, working as a team toward a shared goal.”
Safe-Hub Philadelphia works closely with community members to offer a safe and fun place to play for 250 kids each season, ages 4 to 18. While little ones are learning physical literacy and motor skills, teens and preteens are practicing managing their emotions and collaborating. More mature teens explore opportunities for the future in off-field programming, and a cohort mentors the younger kids.
“To see the way they own the values we espouse on the field is a major indicator of success for us,” Connolly says.
Connolly’s road to AMANDLA started with a history and philosophy double major at Nazareth. He credits Asian history professor Nevan Fisher, Ph.D., with urging him to apply for a Fulbright scholarship, despite his own doubts.
“He took me under his wing and pushed me to reach my full potential,” Connolly recalls. “He continually challenged me to reach for those next steps and opportunities. His influence and ease of access defined a lot of my experience at Nazareth.”
Connolly won the Fulbright and went to teach English for two years in an all-boys middle school in rural South Korea. He had classes of 40 or more — and a language barrier that made it nearly impossible to get to know his students. To build connection, he convinced the school to start a soccer program. Eighteen of the most disruptive and difficult students showed up. But something transformative happened that showed him the power of the game beyond the field.
“In just two weeks of on-field programming, our relationship changed substantially,” he says. “I saw them not just as students who wanted to derail things, and they became big advocates for me in the classroom. It really helped me understand there was something to this idea of sports-based youth development and community development and engagement.
“All that was spurred by Dr. Fisher urging me to apply for a Fulbright,” he adds. “He was adamant to me.”
With this path in mind, Connolly earned a master’s degree in law and diplomacy from Tufts University, then joined AMANDLA nearly seven years ago. He knew he had to return to the United States when his visa was up — and he also knew American cities were desperate for a similar approach. Safe-Hub Philadelphia is the springboard.
“The mission of our organization, to empower and change lives, is very closely aligned to my passions,” Connolly says. “I want to use tools like sport to bring about greater opportunities for equity and to redistribute resources in our communities.”
Sally Parker is a writer in New York’s Mid-Hudson Valley.
A professor's impact
“All that was spurred by Dr. Fisher (executive director of Nazareth's Center for International Education) urging me to apply for a Fulbright.”
— Liam Connolly, on how he got started on the path to his changemaking work