During the COVID-19 pandemic, our in-person programs were sidelined due to limited international travel and health safety concerns. I was itching to get back out there in the field to help the kids learn the fundamentals of soccer, a game I love dearly. 

Finally, the day had arrived and I boarded a plane to Mexico just days after Hurricane Josephine rocked the country. When I arrived, the roads, homes, and other buildings were destroyed. I took a 4×4 truck to the programs because the roads had so many bumps, mini canyons causing a loud thud every few seconds. This program was really important because these kids were dealing with major life problems: a Hurricane may have wrecked their town or home, a global pandemic was forcing them to participate in remote learning with few resources, and they may be living in difficult conditions of extreme poverty. 

First, I worked with Los Niños de la Sierra. With this organization, the children can receive meals, access to psychological services, homework help and resources to play sports with their friends. This group has the same goal as Around the Worlds, providing creative outlets for children to express themselves. 

At the beginning of the program, the kids made sure to wear their soccer shoes or Nike’s to be adequately prepared for the days program. They were incredibly helpful, listening to directions and helping me set up cones for drills. The staff there is also super supportive, cheering on the kids as they practice. 

The staff there is also super supportive, cheering on the kids as they practice. 

The athletes in this program are located in a rural part of Mexico where there is limited access to internet service and electricity, making online learning a true challenge. The students are having a tough time transitioning to this new education model because once they finish an assignment, there is no guarantee they will be able to submit it. Sometimes the electricity is out or the internet service is down, so this learning system really shows the technology gap between students. I wanted to provide a program that was a distraction from these worries and concerns. These participants are worrying about adult problems, when they should be focused on having fun and learning.

At the end of the program, I saw a line forming behind a girl who asked me to sign her ball. As a token of our time together, I signed soccer balls, t-shirts and even one girl’s dress. I hope I can return to this community because the kids were super excited and ready to play, learn and dream.