Project Launch:

With a $410 grant from World Connect’s Kids to Kids Program in 2010, a girl’s soccer team was organized in the community of San Sebastian-El Espino, El Salvador, marking the first time that the youth in San Sebastian-El Espino have an organized sports team in their community. Participants learned teamwork and leadership skills, increased their self-esteem and their ability to make healthy choices. This project also established a tournament where the girls could demonstrate their new skills to the community and compete with other teams. As a result, the whole community turned out to support the girls. Before the tournament the girls had never won a game but they ended up winning the entire tournament. The girls are very motivated to host another tournament and have already begun to save up money to pay the referees. These girls walked away with great life skills and the encouragement from their community that they can continue this tournament for years to come.