| WHY SOCCER?We use premier soccer camps for two reasons:
1. It’s a passion of the youth.
Throughout Latin America, soccer is a deep-seated passion that crosses boundaries of race, gender, socio-economic status, and language.
Regardless of the conditions in which they live and with whom they play, it is common to find youth playing soccer in the streets of Guatemala on a daily basis. Surrounded by crime, violence, poverty, and hopelessness, youth look to soccer as the only opportunity to exit their dire situation.
2. It’s a platform for mentors.
Studies have proven the power of mentorship. Mentoring relationships increase interpersonal skills, self-confidence, and the cognitive and emotional development of youth.
Guatemala has thousands of youth pastors and young adults who are available and willing to provide lifelong mentorship for at-risk youth. Up to this point, the mediums used to reach the youth have proven ineffective.
A week-long soccer camp provides just the right opportunity to bring the disadvantaged youth and mentors together to forge lasting relationships. |
