The first time Mike Paye returned to his native country, he cried for a week. The head coach of Clarke University’s men’s soccer program knew that poverty in the West African nation of Liberia was extreme. But seeing the circumstances in which people were living was “life-changing” for Paye, who left Liberia as a young child.
“Kids from age 3 on up were selling water to survive and begging for food to eat,” he recalled. “What we here (in the U.S.
) think is poverty is actually luxury out there ...
and being a person with a heart and seeing that, you’re going to say, ‘Wow, there should be a change here.’” Since that sobering first trip back to Liberia in 2020, Paye has shipped donated clothing, shoes, food and more to his native country. This year, following the launch of a foundation to support his work, more than $100,000 worth of donations have poured in, and Paye now is working to fund their shipment to Liberia in time for Christmas.
“I don’t know where God is going to lead me with this ...
but I cannot explain to you how lucky and blessed we already have been,” Paye said. Amid civil war in Liberia, Paye fled the country in his childhood along with his mother and siblings. His father, who stayed behind, was ultimately killed in the war.
After traveling first to Ivory Coast and then Ghana, Paye’s family sought refuge in the U.S., and Paye spent his childhood in North Carolina.
He found success playing soccer, both at Tyler (Texas) Junior College.
