T.E.A.M. Granada Opportunity Fund

Soccer Without Borders is excited to announce a pilot scholarship program in Granada, Nicaragua! Sponsored by the generosity of the Angus Held Foundation, this Fund will provide unique learning and growth opportunities to outstanding members of Futbol Sin Fronteras in Granada. The program "T.E.A.M. Granada Opportunity Fund" will allow Futbol Sin Fronteras youth members, youth leaders, and local directors to pursue unique opportunities outside of FSF that will further their education and/or enable them to pursue their life goals. Applicants will describe their past education, the opportunity they wish to pursue, and write a short essay about how the opportunity will help enable them to achieve their goals.

The Opportunity Fund was born out of a realization that programs for youth can act as inspiration to young people to want to pursue positive change in their lives and communities, but often are limited in their capacity to provide varied opportunities and longitudinal progress. Our program in Granada encourages members to "Suena en Grande" or "Dream Big" but recognizes that some of these dreams may (and should!) reach beyond the scope of our programming. This fund will help bridge the gap between FSF in Granada, where we hope dreams are born, to the world at large where they can be realized. A big thank you to the Angus Held Foundation for their generosity!

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Great Piece About our Partner Ruffneckwear.com on TV in Seattle

Here is a piece that appeared about Ruffneckwear.com on channel 5 in Seattle. It is about their success in getting scarves to be a major part of the MLS soccer experience. Jeff and Erin at Ruffneck have been a huge support to us over the last three years, from designing and donating custom SWB scarves we could use for fundraising, to offering advice about operations, to lending a hand in any way they can. We truly appreciate their support and friendship, and congratulate them on all of their success!

Spring Infusion well underway in Granada, Nicaragua

Check in with the SWB Nicaragua blog at http://swbnicaragua.blogspot.com for the latest news on the group of volunteers currently in Granada, Nicaragua for spring break. Current and former players from Colorado College, Penn State, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Lehigh are spending a week infusing new energy and ideas into our year-round program at the oficina in Granada, and hosting special events for the youth leaders and girls. In addition, we are extremely fortunate to have Suzanne Silett from Team Up for Youth (www.teamupforyouth.org) with the group to do some coaches trainings and team building exercises with the Nicaraguan Youth Leaders and volunteers.

SWB Ambassador's Eagle Scout Project in Fairfax, Virginia Collects Great Soccer Gear for SWB Programs

Peter with the completed gearThrougout the summer and fall of 2009, one of SWB's ambassadors in Fairfax, VA used his eagle scout project to collect gear for use at SWB's program sites.

As part of his Eagle Scout project, Peter placed boxes at Burke Sporting Goods, Burke Racquet & Swim Club and Robinson Secondary and soccer players took boxes to team practices to collect used soccer gear. He also received several boxes of items from the women’s team at The College of William & Mary, where his sister is a team member.
A member of Troop 1346, Peter collected 45 soccer balls, 160 shirts, 30 cleats, 50 pairs of socks, jackets, sweats, soccer cones and more.

Many of the items are currently in use at our project site in Solola, Guatemala, and the others will be going out with volunteers over the coming months. SWB would like to extend a big thank you to Peter for all of his hard work and dedication as well as all of the people who  so generously donated equipment. To read a full version of Peter's report, please click here. 

Former US National Team and Ajax Star John O'Brien Talks About His 2010 Trip to Central America with SWB

John and youth leaders Cesar and David with one of the ninas in Granada

For the 2nd year in a row, we had the distinct pleasure of having John O'Brien join us for campamento in El Salvador. This year, he also came to Granada, Nicaragua to spend some time supporting the girls in the program there. It is always wonderful to watch young people's eyes light up when they learn that John has played in World Cups, the Olympics and in Europe alongside some of the best players in the world. And yet far from being an arrogant soccer star, John is always incredibly humble and accessible. You see him constantly smiling and active with the kids, and he's always willing to help in whatever area support is needed, from pumping balls, to sweeping the office to leading soccer and educational sessions.

Since the first time I met John, I have always been struck by the way he wants to be known for who he is, and not as a soccer legend the way some of us approach him, along with all of the strange dynamics celebrity can inspire. John has a uniquely kind heart and seeks to learn from every experience he has. I feel very fortunate to have gotten to know John, and we all feel very honored to have him as part of the SWB team. Below are John's reflections on the time he spent in January 2010 in El Salvador and Nicaragua:

Lions and Zebras"The El Salvador camp was great!  SWB along with other organizations and teachers put together a good curriculum for the kids to enjoy.  In the evenings there was lots of laughter with mimes, magic, music and dancing.  During the day activities and learning, expanding what you know to include things you once did not know.  And some say camp does not change you!  The Soccer part was conducted in two groups mostly to include as many girls and guys as possible in the activities.  When the afternoon sessions would begin with the warm sun beating down on the improvised playing ground the kids small, big, and the no longer kids, all wanted to play a full sized scrimmage.  The passion for the game was unreal!  Enthusiasm bridled with fair play, who wouldn’t want to coach this group.  The camp needless to say was a big success.  Unfortunately Ben missed out on a couple beautiful days of camp because he was supporting a food born bug who made Ben’s stomach his home for a few days.  His presence was missed.  

Outside the SWB office in Granada, NicaraguaGranada Nicaragua!  The show has arrived!  Girls soccer camp as part of the larger program.  The town is buzzing.  At least 20 American volunteers, 10 or more local Nicaraguan’s on staff and how many kids… 60! The practice sessions were well organized.  Groups were divided into groups with staff groups being partitioned into smaller sub-groups sometimes resulting in a one person group of cells contained by skin.  Individual attention at every soccer learning station around the field.  And games! Fun games, explorative games.  The foundation for the Granada location is sound.  The content, behavior, rules, past and future are all well meshed into the moment for the benefit of many.  The service this program gives to the community is greatly evident and the support of the community to the program…ah warm, opening, a heartfelt experience for all volunteers involved.  

Much thanks to SWB for having me along for these trips and experiences.  It is obvious the programs in place are doing great work where work is needed.  I have to say, selfishly, as it may be I think I have benefitted most.  Of course you can’t know others like you can know yourself.  Knowing myself and experiencing myself daily I can feel that the world I inhabit is bigger.  Soccer Without Borders has made me a John with less Borders. (completely without might be dangerous for the community!)"

John ended his trip with a new hairstyle thanks to Zumbita