Champions in Action mentors average 4 hours of weekly mentorship time with each of the kids on their team. Our biweekly soccer leagues are, not only a safe, quality place for kids to play the game they love, but also provide additional devotion and mentorship time for the kids and mentors. Normally, league provides double the mentorship hours as their weekly meet-ups.
During COVID-19, our mentors have served as the hands and feet of the Lord, providing hope and encouragement to the kids and their families. Champions in Action has provided monthly food bags to all families in the program, delivered by the mentors who also encourage and pray for the families. Our mentors have also been key to our Guatemala staff in letting us know what is happening in the communities, in real time, so Champions in Action can quickly respond to specific needs, like suicide risks, malnutrition and access to medicine. We’ve also created a virtual league, distance mentoring projects and are continually evaluating the economic and health needs of each individual family.
Champions in Action Guatemala has governing oversight by a local, Guatemalan Board of Directors. The Guatemala location leadership is led by Executive Director, Airo Cruz. Angel Matías is our Guatemalan mentor coordinator. He is responsible for recruiting and training mentors, overseeing discipleship training and devotions and serving as a liaison and ‘pastor’ to the mentors. Beberlin Clara is the sports coordinator, training our mentors in proper coaching technique, overseeing league and camp soccer training.