Beyond Louisville
Global Initiatives
More Than A Smile Foundation builds relationships with partner communities beyond the United States through youth leadership, cultural exchange, and locally informed collaboration.
Our Global Vision
Local roots, connected communities
Louisville families bring relationships, histories, and commitments that extend across borders. Our global work recognizes those connections while keeping community voice and local partnership at the center.
We collaborate with defined partner relationships to support youth-centered activities, cultural exchange, and community-led opportunities. Specific activities, funding, and results are reported as they are confirmed.
This work is rooted in mutual respect, shared learning, and accountability to the communities involved. We do not treat global partnership as charity from a distance.
Our Programs
Four pillars of global impact
East Africa
Youth Sports & Development
Youth sports activities can create opportunities for connection, teamwork, and participation. More Than A Smile Foundation works with partner communities to explore youth-centered sports and development opportunities, with activities and support shaped by local context and confirmed partnerships.
Cultural Exchange
International Youth Exchange
Cultural exchange creates space for young people and families to share stories, traditions, and perspectives across communities. Exchange activities are developed with partners and shared publicly when participation details, formats, and safeguarding plans are confirmed.
Community Wellness
Global Health & Wellness Outreach
Wellness-related outreach is developed with local partners and within their areas of expertise. More Than A Smile Foundation does not provide clinical care; any health or behavioral-health services are led by qualified local providers and described only when confirmed.
Organizational Partnerships
Global Partner Network
We work through defined relationships with nonprofits, community groups, schools, and faith communities. Partners bring local knowledge and leadership; More Than A Smile Foundation contributes coordination, relationship-building, and support where it is mutually agreed and documented.
Partnership in practice
Moments from partner communities
Community gathering
Youth connection through sport
Learning together
Partner collaboration
When young people from different countries play together, they stop being strangers.
— Global Initiatives Participant
Accountable Partnership
Support guided by community priorities
We begin with shared goals, local leadership, and clear roles before describing or funding an activity.
Funding and in-kind support are tracked separately from Louisville direct services and reported when records are available.
We share confirmed activities, partner feedback, and results without overstating reach or outcomes.
For funders & grant reviewers
Global Initiatives — Program Summary
The information below is structured to support grant applications, funder due diligence, and partnership inquiries. For a full conversation, please reach out directly.
Many immigrant and refugee families in Louisville maintain deep ties to communities abroad that face poverty, limited educational access, and lack of youth development infrastructure. More Than A Smile Foundation is uniquely positioned — through its community relationships — to channel resources and programming to these communities in a culturally informed, accountable way.
Youth and families in partner communities across East Africa and beyond, as well as Louisville-based immigrant youth who participate in exchange and global leadership programming. International work is conducted in partnership with local organizations in each country.
Louisville-based programming is centered in South Louisville. International work spans partner communities in Somalia, Kenya, and other countries where Foundation leadership has established relationships.
- Youth soccer leagues and sports development in partner communities abroad
- Cultural exchange programming connecting Louisville youth to global peers
- Community health outreach in partnership with local health organizations
- Educational resource distribution and school support
- International partnership development and capacity building
- Annual International Cup — a 3-day multicultural youth soccer tournament
International programming is conducted on a project basis throughout the year. The Annual International Cup is held annually. Louisville-based global programming runs year-round.
Participation and outcome data will be published following the 2026 program cycle. The Foundation has engaged youth and families across 3 countries through direct and partnership-based programming.
- Youth in partner communities gain access to sports, education, and health resources
- Louisville youth develop global perspective and cross-cultural leadership skills
- Partner communities receive sustained, relationship-based support rather than one-time aid
- Cultural exchange strengthens identity and belonging for immigrant youth in Louisville
- Replicable model for diaspora-led international development is documented and shared
Participation and outcome data will be published following the 2026 program cycle. Global work is conducted through trusted community relationships built over multiple years.
- Mustaqbal Inc.
- Somali Advocacy, Justice & Equality Movement
- Local partner organizations in Somalia and Kenya
- Louisville-based cultural and faith communities
Additional investment would fund travel and logistics for international program delivery, expand the Annual International Cup, support a Global Initiatives Coordinator, and allow the Foundation to document and share its diaspora-led development model.
Amina Shale, Executive Director — [email protected] | 502-956-1414
Ready to invest in this program? We welcome site visits, due-diligence calls, and partnership conversations.
Build connected communities with us
Support global partnership work through thoughtful collaboration, shared learning, and investment that follows confirmed community priorities.