From 6 months

I first visited the community of Los Amates, La Libertad, El Salvador when I was 6 months old. From then on, I would spend most of my childhood summers visiting my grandmother’s home in what is known today as the Northern Triangle of Central America. Back home my classmates would share their plans for summer retreats with the Scouts, family vacations, baseball camp, but me? I went to what my mom called “Life Camp.” She made the conscious decision to make sure I had the opportunity to experience a bit of what life was like for her as a child growing up in a beautiful, yet less privileged part of the world. With each trip came more friendships and adventures. We would spend most of our time playing soccer on a field that my grandfather donated to the community many years ago. When it was time to return to my home in Los Angeles, it was always difficult to leave and jump back into my privileged life. I began leaving my favorite toys, shoes, sports gear and beloved Nintendo 64. One summer my brother Ronny gave me a couple soccer balls to take with me, and this cycle continued throughout my childhood into adolescence. After graduating from USC in 2015, I began my career and returned to El Salvador to visit my grandmother, only to find that there were still groups of kids playing soccer on the same field as I once did.

Then in the summer of 2017 I launched a crowd funding campaign with a modest goal of $500 for soccer equipment to be donated to the school in Los Amates. When I arrived with the donated gear, I discovered the opportunity to create something unique and bigger than I could ever imagine. With the community, school, and kids’ support we launched A.F.J.A., Academia de Futbol Juvenil Amatense, which is Spanish for Youth Soccer Academy of Los Amates. The three eligibility requirements are Academic Progress Reports, Monthly Community Ownership projects, and Adherence to our Attendance Policy. Once back in the States, the story began to be shared from network to network and we discovered there were so many people from diverse backgrounds extending their hand to help establish an academy for these children. We had the beginnings of a bridge of support through the beautiful game of soccer.

We became incorporated and recognized as a non-profit in the State of California which led to multiple soccer gear donation drives at various parks throughout Southern California. Parents would share how much they appreciated the opportunity to teach American-born children about philanthropy, sustainability, and humanity through the sport we all love. With your help, we would be able to develop our program even more and expand it to other at-risk communities in Central America. We are making an impact on the lives of these children in our communities in California and in Central America by helping develop future leaders through the power of play.