The Power of Play: From Los Angeles to Los Amates (LA2LA)

Football, soccer, fútbol, no matter what you choose to call it, there is no denying that it is one of the most unifying sports in the world. For me, my passion for fútbol comes out in full force during the World Cup. It is a time to pull out the soccer jerseys, root for la patria, and support the teams we adopt when we see the excitement in our friends’ eyes as they root for their motherland. The fruits of the game are the lasting bonds and memories that can be held for a lifetime to come. This year, I have a reason to love fútbol beyond the World Cup. Thanks to the wonders of social media, I was fortunate to cross paths with an organization that embraces the spirit of fútbol to make a life changing impact on the lives of the children it touches. I am happy to introduce the story of Steven Cruz, the founder of A.F.J.A, Academia de Futbol Juvenil Amatense, a fútbol academy based in Los Amates, El Salvador.

For Steven fútbol has been a constant for as long as he can remember. He grew up visiting Los Amates, his family’s hometown, every summer. The pictures hanging on the wall of his grandmother’s home are more than family portraits, they showcase how deep the roots of fútbol run in his family. Steven recognizes his uncles and cousins in the team pictures from the 70’s and the 80’s. As we talk, he tells me about his ties to the community and his motivations for starting A.F.J.A.  

Diana: Tell us about how your interest and passion for fútbol started?

Steven: I first visited El Salvador when I was only six months old. Every summer through high school, instead of going to camp like my friends in the states, my mother sent me to stay with my grandmother in Canton Los Amates in departamento La Libertad. I would spend the whole summer playing fútbol on the very same field we host our academy on today. This field- Cancha Rene Molina Los Amates- is central to the community, and I am thankful to my grandfather who donated the field to community in the 1990’s.

Monthly Community Ownership project. Participants of AFJA’s girls and boys U-17 teams clean up the walkway to a Cancha de Futbol Rene Salvador Molina, Los Amates in Departamento La Libertad, E.S. April 2018

I remember always feeling sad when I had to go back to Los Angeles. I started to see the disparity in access to the basic things between my friends in Los Amates and my friends in LA. My friends in LA didn’t even have to think about getting new gear, especially when they were going through their growth spurts. So I started leaving behind my shoes and cleats for my cousins and friends in El Salvador. I packed soccer balls in my checked bag when I was 8 years old. I knew I was privileged in not having to think about my gear and I wanted to share that with my home away from home in Los Amates.

American youth soccer players donating their cleat collections to the cause. Downey, CA. December 2017

Diana: Your actions are commendable and it speaks to your desire to contribute in lasting ways to your community. Tell me how you decided to start A.F.J.A.

Steven: After I graduated college and entered the professional world, I found myself with even more access to resources. I knew that I could make my efforts to benefit my community back home bigger. My passion project started with me taking a couple soccer balls every summer and has evolved to a full program. A.F.J.A. was officially created on July 5th, 2017 and provides a full soccer academy for girls and boys complete with cleats, equipment, weekly practices and games. We have 78 girls and boys enrolled in the program. We recently expanded the age range to include 5 to 19 year olds because we saw many young adults hanging out around the field during practice. As part of our efforts, we also provide youth soccer clubs, leagues, and associations in the United States the opportunity to recycle any used gear and uniforms.

At our core, we want to offer the youth of our communities access to joy and success through the power of play. We are in the process of making A.F.J.A. an official non-profit organization based in Los Angeles.

Diana: It’s remarkable what you have been able to accomplish in a year! I also want to emphasize why the work you are doing is so important. Los Amates is one of the most underserved communities in El Salvador, and there are greater forces at play that place the children in this area at risk. Can you tell me more about that dynamic?

Steven: Poverty and gang violence have lead to a staggering drop-out rate amongst children in primary and secondary schools. According to La Prensa Gráfica, El Salvador’s national newspaper, only 43% of students in the sixth grade continue on to high school. There is also gender-based violence where women and girls are disproportionately targeted. A.F.J.A was created to give students something to look forward to and prevent participation in gang activity.  We are a safe space and focus on creating fun, interactive, and learning experiences for children through El Salvador’s favorite sport, fútbol. Fútbol can be used to teach the youth about solidarity amongst each other, and supports the development of strong interpersonal skills with their team members and others off the field. There is also the opportunity for children of both genders to engage in co-ed spaces where they can learn about gender equality, and can dismantle the stigma that “boys are better than girls.” Most importantly, A.F.J.A. provides a place for children to be children, to play freely, and to encourage education amongst participants.

Founder of AFJA, Steven Levy Cruz leads a team building exercises at Centro Escolar Cantón Los Amates. October 2017

Diana: As a fellow Salvadoreña, it really warms my heart that you have created this program. You want children to enjoy their childhood and to learn valuable lessons. I love that you have created this program in such a way that it teaches and reinforces the values of education, citizenship, and commitment. Can you tell us more about those components of the program?

Steven: The three eligibility requirements were created in an effort to establish responsibility and ownership of the academy. We do not charge the families anything for their children to participate. However, we do uphold the requirements of academics, community ownership, and attendance.

K-3rd grade classroom at Centro Escolar Cantón  Los Amates. There is currently one teacher for the 56 students at this K-6th grade school.

I determined the academic requirement from my own experiences as a student athlete here in the US. I wanted to get the school and it’s faculty involved in the project. From our initial visits to the school, we learned how understaffed and ill-equipped they are to effectively teach the kids. This academy offers the faculty and staff a tool to motivate students to participate and do well in class.
The Community Ownership requirement empowers kids to become owners of the space around them. We want to help raise good citizens and instill in them the idea of philanthropy and community service.
The attendance requirement was an idea by one of our volunteer coaches in El Salvador, Oscar. He wanted to make sure the kids understood responsibility and punctuality. These requirements are evolving but at the core we want to teach these kids to be dedicated, ambitious, and upstanding citizens.

Teammates of the U-10 team huddle and game plan before a friendly scrimmage against their rivals from Canton San Bartolo. January 2018

Diana: it’s hard for me not to envision the impact these kids could have on the community in just a few years from now. They could even become the future soccer players of the national league! What is your vision for A.F.J.A. as you continue to grow?

Steven: The ultimate vision is to create a sustainable model that can be expanded to different communities in El Salvador and the broader region. We want to help kids become community leaders and responsible members of society. We hope to establish bridges of support through soccer by connecting the children in the United States with their peers in Central America.

Diana: Thank you so much for sharing your story with me and the ALAS community. We really hope we can inspire our readers to support A.F.J.A. I will be including the links and resources for people to get involved below the article. We will also be sharing more of your story on our Instagram stories. We are really excited to help bring awareness to the impact you are having on the lives of the kids of Los Amates in El Salvador.

Steven: Thank you so much for your support Diana. When I found out about ALAS and Travel Trucos I knew I had to reach out and share my story. The travel expenses associated with this project have predominantly been subsidized by my Chase Sapphire Rewards points. I often share my own travel tricks with my own family and Spanish speaking friends. The question I always get is, “how do you travel so often?” I always end up referencing Travel Trucos and I share how I effectively use my credit card points to pay for things I care about, like making A.F.J.A a reality.

Members of the new U-19 team at AFJA HQ in Canton Los Amates receiving their first uniforms.

Captivated by this story? Join ALAS in supporting A.F.J.A on their journey to win the MLS Works + Wells Fargo Community MVP Contest. Subscribe to our newsletter below to get the latest updates on the contest.

You can also learn more about A.F.J.A. by visiting their blog on LA2LA.org and following their journey on Instagram @AFJA.es or Twitter @AFJAES.