Soccer Without Poverty (SWP) is an initiative that helps vulnerable youth from junior soccer clubs identify and overcome challenges, empowering them in the process. Through the use of the Poverty Stoplight, they are able to measure their level of multidimensional poverty and with the help of a mentor, create customized strategies to address these needs. SWP focuses on the holistic and participatory approach to eliminating poverty as a key element for youth to succeed in life and in soccer.
In Latin America, many vulnerable youth view soccer as a way of escaping poverty. The reality is that only 1 in 10 junior leagues players manages to become professional. In other words, nine young players don't make it and find themselves unequipped to find a job or generate income. Fundacion Paraguaya believes that supporting junior league players in the process of evaluating and addressing their multidimensional poverty is crucial to helping them succeed in soccer as well as in life.
Using an innovative tool called the Poverty Stoplight, they will be able to identify their needs and come up with strategies to address them. Fundacion Paraguaya will provide them with access to training opportunities, medical check-ups, and counseling to support their integral development. This will result in better sports performance, oftentimes affected by the hardships experienced at home. It will also benefit their families as they become integrated into the program to work together.
Fundacion Paraguaya expects to support a more sustainable future and an increased quality of life by helping aspiring professional soccer players develop skills and empowering them in the process of eliminating poverty in their households. This will increase the chances of young players to excel in soccer as the economic and social circumstances become less of an obstacle and more of a booster to achieve greater things.
This project has provided additional documentation in a PDF file (projdoc.pdf).
