STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. -- Saving the world may be monumental task for one football player. That's why Falcons fullback Ovie Mughelli is recruiting some of the brightest young minds to help him along the way.
Tuesday, Mughelli visited Refugee Family Services -- a non-profit group charged with helping refugee women and children start new lives in the United States. The fullback spoke with about 50 children from the after school program, which helps with continued education.
His audience was diverse in age, background and religion but Mughelli's presence brought the common language of hugs and smiles to the room. Thanks to The Ovie Mughelli Project, the students also got a table full of learning tools from Hooked on Phonics. They also got some motivational words from Mughelli.
"All the things you want to do are great," said the NFL veteran, who says he first thought he'd grow up to be a doctor. "But, you can not get there without education. I had to go to school and learn my science math and history.
"It doesn't matter who you are, if you have an education and work at it you can be anything you want to be."
Mughelli then asked the students what they wanted to be when they "grew up." Answers included "doctor," "lawyer," "teacher" and "dentist." A smile on his face, Mughelli moved on to a contest his foundation sponsored at the center and another topic in his program -- the "Save the Environment Art Contest."
Participants were asked to draw an Atlanta Falcon saving the environment. Ten winners were selected prior to the event and awarded Falcons-themed prizes.
"You all need to understand that saving the environment is important," Mughelli said. "When you guys are my age I want you to worry about the ozone layer and global warming."
Children and Mughelli agree that simple things like picking up trash, recycling cans or planting a tree can help save the world. Reaching out to children from different cultures -- many of whom faced struggles in their home country -- also has a positive impact.
According to Kathleen Hodgson, who helps coordinate youth programs at the center, a visit from Mughelli helps motivate children. The center serves more than 100 kids a week ages 5 to 18.
Number one, they learned about education today," she said. "That's great for the students."
Hodgson also said Mughelli is the perfect player to work with her group because of his background. Hodgson hopes more programs can take place in the future.
According to the non-profit's annual report, the Atlanta area is home to more than 40,000 refugees from countries including Afghanistan, Bosnia, Cuba, Iraq, Kurdistan, Somalia, Sudan and Vietnam. During the 2006 fiscal year, close to 2,000 new refugees came to Georgia. By definition, a refugee is a person who escapes their home country in the face of "danger or persecution."
Women and children who visit Refugee Family Services get guidance on employment, schools and the support of 25 full-time staffers who speak more than 20 languages. Many of them are refugees and immigrants.
Mughelli may not be able to save the world alone, but Tuesday he touched many of the planet's cultures and the future of its children.
"This group of kids is important to me because I'm from Nigeria," Mughelli said. "I can understand their plight and how different it is to come to this country."
