Kentucky Zomi youth head to national gathering
BOWLNG GREEN, Ky. (WNKY) — Young people from Kentucky’s Zomi community received an official send-off in Bowling Green before heading to Tulsa, Oklahoma, for a national gathering that brings Zomi families together through sports, culture and fellowship.
The Kentucky delegation includes middle school students, high school students, college students and young adults. They are representing the state in boys under-17 soccer, pickleball, table tennis and the Miss Kentucky competition.
Keeping a culture connected
Many Zomi families came to the United States as refugees from Myanmar, according to information provided by Zomi Innkuan USA. The organization says roughly 30,000 Zomi people now live across the country.
Zomi Innkuan USA was founded in 2005 to help connect Zomi communities across the United States. Its national gathering is held every two years, with sports, cultural activities and fellowship bringing people together from across the country.
About 5,000 people from 46 states attended the 2024 gathering in Tulsa, according to the organization. This year’s event is also being held in Tulsa.
For Kentucky’s younger participants, Khawl Nuam, a member of the Kentucky Zomi community, said the trip offers something beyond competition.
“For most of them, it will be their first time competing and going to this event,” Nuam said. “And I hope that they learn the value and they learn a love of our culture and know the importance of community and what it feels to have someone that they know will always be with them.”
Nuam said seeing second-generation Zomi youth become involved in the community has been especially meaningful.
More than soccer
The Kentucky soccer team has spent roughly two months preparing for the competition. Head coach Khen Tung said practices have focused on more than what happens on the field.
“We always coach the team to be like, hey, it’s not just about just playing,” Tung said. “We want to also develop a character. And, and it’s not just about, kicking a soccer ball. You know, we want them to have a character. And every time before we play, we always pray with them after practice. We let them know that everything we do, we want to glorify God.”
Tung said the coaches also want the players to develop leadership skills as they prepare to represent their community.
For many of the younger participants, the gathering also provides an opportunity to experience traditions they may not have grown up around.
“For a lot of the younger ones, they grew up [in Kentucky] and they don’t know much about the culture that we used to have,” Tung said, adding that it is important for them to experience and remain connected to that culture.
Tung said he is proud to represent Kentucky and feels a responsibility to represent the state in the best way possible.
A send-off from Bowling Green
Before the group began its trip to Tulsa, Bowling Green police escorted the delegation as part of its official send-off.
Tung said the send-off was unlike anything he had experienced before.
“I’m excited. I’ve never seen anything like this before,” Tung said. “It’s my first time seeing something like this. And, yeah, I’m kind of nervous and excited at the same time, so I’m ready for it.”
Zomi Innkuan USA says its broader mission centers on three goals: uniting the Zomi community, developing the next generation and preserving its language, culture, history and identity.
