When his playing career ended in 2016, Mehdi Ballouchy was driven to find a way to help Syrian refugees fleeing their war-torn country. He partnered with the Catalyst Foundation for Universal Education and started Kickstart Joy, a foundation that uses soccer to bring happiness to the lives of Syrian refugees.

Jillian Sakovits joined the former MLS player and current NYCFC Under-15 boys coach on a trip to Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan, where she talked to the refugees who have participated in Kickstart Joy along with other ex-MLSers, like Steven Lenhart and MLSsoccer.com personality Bobby Warshaw, who have joined Ballouchy's cause.

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