Siblings Maya and Hiyaw Connect for Goals On and Off the Field
13-year-old Maya and her 10-year-old brother Hiyaw share their passion for poetry, soccer, their Ethiopian heritage, and the importance of representation ahead of the 2026 Men’s World Cup.
At DC SCORES, poet-athletes are empowered to make a difference in their lives and community through poetry and soccer. Siblings Maya and Hiyaw wonderfully embody both pillars of the DC SCORES model.
Maya, an Ida B. Wells Middle School poet-athlete, credits DC SCORES with introducing her to a new art form. “My favorite thing about DC SCORES is definitely how I discovered poetry. I could literally not be more thankful for that, because it’s a huge part of my life now,” she says.
That passion for poetry has taken Maya all the way to DC SCORES’ biggest stages. She is a three-time performer at Our Words Our City, DC SCORES’ premier annual youth poetry showcase and Poet-Athlete Award ceremony, where Youth Word Project poet-athletes share original spoken-word pieces alongside top artists in the DMV.
Maya’s prowess for poetry was also recognized at the highest level of women’s sports. She performed at the Washington Spirit’s 2025 home opener at Audi Field, as part of an event promoting a partnership between CVS Health and the NWSL club.
For Maya, poetry is an outlet for self-expression. “I love the idea that you’re able to express yourself, and take words, […] put them all together and boom, that’s exactly how you feel. You can just say it out loud,” she explains. For Maya, poetry is “one of the best possible ways to express yourself, and I really like that.”
That passion for poetry rubbed off on her younger brother, Hiyaw, who participates in DC SCORES at Truesdell Elementary School. He reached his own milestone last year — taking the Our Words Our City stage for the very first time. He says performing poetry makes him feel “strong,” a sentiment that feels right at home alongside his love for the game.
He recalls fond early memories of playing soccer with DC SCORES. Soccer is not only fun, but liberating, he says, “My favorite thing about soccer, honestly, is the trick shots. You can do whatever you want with the ball.”
Heritage and Representation on the Field and Beyond
Maya and Hiyaw’s parents are from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The family is part of a large Ethiopian diaspora community in the Washington, D.C., area.
Though the siblings disagree on which Ethiopian dish is their favorite, they both highlight food as one of the ways they connect with their heritage.
With a large and growing Ethiopian community in the DMV, interest in the nation’s food, music, and culture is high. But Maya offers wise words of caution for anyone interested in learning more about Ethiopia and its diaspora community. “Please take your facts from the source,” she says, to avoid inaccuracies found on social media platforms.
One way the pair connect with their roots is through sport. Although Ethiopia is not competing in this year’s Men’s World Cup, Maya shared her enthusiasm for cheering for Naomi Girma, an Ethiopian-American superstar on the U.S. Women’s National Team, at the Olympics.
“I’ve never actually seen Ethiopian representation in an American team, and just seeing [Girma] was kind of mind-blowing,” Maya says, “and I was rooting for her the whole time.”
Life Lessons Through Soccer
With the 2026 Men’s World Cup just weeks away, the siblings know who they will be rooting for.
Hiyaw is a Lionel Messi fan, so he’ll be watching Argentina try to defend their title. Maya says, absent Ethiopia’s presence, she’ll support other African countries in the tournament.
“If any team from Africa actually does end up making it in the World Cup, I’m immediately rooting for them,” she explains.
Amid the excitement of the World Cup, the siblings reflect on what DC SCORES has taught them about soccer and working together. They share that the sport has helped them to build trust, strengthen community, and encourage teamwork.
“Soccer teaches you to be able to trust and rely on other people,” Maya says. “Soccer definitely played a huge part in helping me build community.”
“I think soccer teaches us how to build strength and teamwork,” says Hiyaw.
With the lessons and community they’ve built through DC SCORES, the sister-brother duo also shares words of encouragement for other youth around the world.
“I believe in you entirely, ” says Maya. Meanwhile, Hiyaw reminds kids to “never give up on [your] dream” and to “always stay with your team.”
