Sophina is a volunteer with Sheffield-based anti-racism organisation Football Unites Racism Divides.

The 21-year-old, who plays for Sheffield Wednesday ladies, signed up as a 'Millennium Volunteer' five years ago to help put together a women's team and now coaches youngsters and helps run development programmes.

"It's quite rare to find Asians playing and coaching football and it's even rarer to find Asian women in the game," said Sophina, who lives with her family in Tinsley.

She studied for her level one FA coaching badge and has had a stint as a paid development worker.

Now she's heading to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a month to help FURD establish its 'Football Between Communities' project.

The country was ripped apart by civil war, tribal and ethnic conflict and more than half of children aged over six are orphans.

FURD wants to use football as a tool to encourage peace and reconciliation.

"I've been so blessed in my life and I want to give something to the kids who haven't been as fortunate as I have," said Sophina, who will start a bio-chemistry degree at Sheffield University when she returns in a month.

"Around 70 per cent of children in the Sud Kivu area don't have access to education and that's incredible.

"I'm not your traditional Asian girl. I respect my culture and my family but at the same time I want to break down barriers both in England and in Africa.

"I know this kind of work will be culturally sensitive for me as a woman, and as an Asian woman, but I'm ready for that."



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