For June's feature of the month, we highlight the film Goal! Soccer for a Better Future. Just in time for the World Cup, Goal! Soccer for a Better Future is a documentary produced by Jason Katz of the US State Department that highlights the themes of Respect, Diversity, Gender Equality and Teamwork through sport. The film tells the story of how six NGOs (including Soccer Without Borders) use the spirit of athletics to engage and empower disadvantaged youth in Brazil, South Africa and the United States. 

The film examines athletes challenges in their communities and explores the game of soccer as an effective tool in life skills training. Thematic segments include respect, tolerance, diversity, gender equality, teamwork and opportunity. 

June 15- Part 1- Respect/Tolerance

June 22- Part 2- Diversity

June 29- Part 3- Gender Equality

July    6- Part 4- Teamwork/Leadership

July  13- Full length film

Update on Thursday, June 17, 2010 at 6:14PM by Ben

Part 1 From the Film, on Respect and Tolerance

Update on Friday, June 25, 2010 at 8:50PM by Ben

Part 2 Diversity: This is the section that features SWB's work at Oakland International High School!

The outside of the new office in Solola

For this month's feature, we are excited to announce the opening of a new SWB office and community space in Solola, Guatemala. On April 22nd, 2010, SWB Guatemala held an office opening party and inauguration. The event drew a far bigger crowd than expected, and was shown live on local television.

The event served as an opportunity to announce plans for program expansion in the city of Solola, with a focus on the involvement of girls in soccer and educational activities. Having a physical office space, where educational activities can be held, where equipment can be stored and accessed by the community, and where youth can build a sense of connection and identification with the program has been key to the success of our girls program in Granada, Nicaragua. We are hopeful that this office space in Solola will play a similar role in solidifying the program in Solola. 

We look forward to providing updates about the progress of the program and watching the office fill up with the ninas, mujeres, y jovenes from the community! Follow along with SWB program director Luis Alberto Palacios and interns Klaudia and Jon on this blog.

Photo presentation on the day of the openingInside the new bodega!

2008 Campers

For the third year in a row, the mens and womens soccer teams at Skidmore College are organizing an amazing event. The teams come together to hold a week-long soccer camp for the Saratoga Springs community during the school districts spring break. In an all-volunteer effort, the players and coaches from the program spend the week with more then 125 young soccer players from Saratoga Springs. It is a unique opportunity for the kids during spring break to enjoy the great facilities at Skidmore and connect with some truly wonderful role-models that play soccer for the school. As if that weren't merit enough, all of the proceeds from the camp are donated to SWB Uganda, 100% of which go directly to providing soccer and learning opportunities for refugee youth and Ugandan youth living in the community of Ndejje. 

Here is a link from Skidmore's site about last year's camp with some great photos. 

The camp is a beautiful example of how soccer connects people. From bringing the Saratoga Springs community closer together, to making a connection between young people across oceans from different worlds, to uniting the diverse community of Ndejje with its refugee and Ugandan population. 

We are truly grateful to the Skidmore soccer programs, Skidmore college and the Saratoga Springs community for their support and initiative in making this possible.  Below are some images of the work that this camp makes possible, you can also read more about the project from current SWB Interns Stevie Dunning and Lisa Clark on their blog at swbuganda.blogspot.com.

We are happy to announce that we are now accepting applications for our internship programs. Summer internships are available in Granada, Nicaragua, Solola, Guatemala and Ndejje, Uganda beginning June 2010 until August 2010. Long-term internships are available in Granada, Nicaragua, Solola, Guatemala and Ndejje, Uganda beginning in August 2010 and lasting through June 2011. 

To read about the experiences of current volunteers, please see the following blogs:

Zoey Bouchelle, Kaleen Adami Nicaragua

Alli Weis, Jonathan Brooks Guatemala

Stevie Dunning, Lisa Clark Uganda

Please visit this page to learn more about the intern program and fill out the application. Please contact lucas@soccerwithoutborders.org with any questions. 

For February's Feature of the Month, we take a trip from Granada, Nicaragua to Santa Ana, El Salvador with Humberto "Chepe" Largaespada. Chepe, just 18 years old, is one of the youth coaches at the SWB girls program in Granada, Nicaragua. Over the last three years, he has grown tremendously as a coach and as a leader. In order to encourage his development, we invited him to come and teach/learn at the annual Campamento in Santa Ana, El Salvador. The trip marked Chepe's first time leaving Nicaragua. Below, Chepe comments on his experience on his journey and his time in El Salvador:

"The day before my trip to El Salvador I felt nervous because it was the first trip of my life. But I started to think about everything and I said to myself, if I don’t go today, I will never go, and some of the words I don’t like to say are 'never' and 'I cant'. When I arrived in El Salvador, I saw that everything was very different then in Nicaragua and I felt very nervous again the first night I spent there.

Soccer at campamento, 2010On the first day of camp, I became less afraid during the group meeting when the students and teachers introduced themselves and we played a bunch of fun games together. After that nervousness went away, I had a very good experience and I loved so many of the activities. The other people and campers were so friendly, humble  and nice. And the place, La Palma, was full of nature and when the wind hit the big trees it sounded like Lake Nicaragua where I live.  

When we started the camp, there were many classes each day. There was magic, mime, art, healthy minds and of course there was soccer. I really loved all the activities, and I got to coach the girls in soccer and help motivate them to see that they can also play. I met new friends at camp, and learned from them and they learned from me, it was a great exchange and I feel proud that I was able to go to camp and have this experience. I want to say thank you to Soccer Without Borders for bringing me to El Salvador and to all my friends at camp, I hope that I can go on more trips outside of Nicaragua in the future.

Sincerely,

- Chepe

Morning yoga class

Chepe with Luis, Ben and former US Mens National Team Star John Obrien who was on hand for the camp