Goals For Kids: Sports Program – GUATEMALA
COVID-19 UPDATE: In the week before the Guatemalan government initiated travel limits, Goals for Kids distributed 200 educational flyers on how to prevent the spread of Coronavirus. Working through the municipal authorities of San Jacinto gave the message of the flyers more weight. In the photos above, the black staff with a red tassel indicates the man is a municipal officer on official San Jacinto business. It means that the residents are to do what this man says as he represents municipal authority.
Dreams of emigration begin when youth in Central America feel there is nothing for them at home. EPIC’s project, Goals for Kids, works with teens and younger who have previously had no PE in school. This exciting project gets kids moving and is more than fun. They learn to work together, stay healthy and, most importantly, build the confidence that need to take on life. Before starting the Goals for Kids program, it was necessary to involve the parents to get their support and prepare a playground
Being in sports provides healthy activity and gives teens a place where they feel they belong. If a teenager is part of a soccer team, there is much less temptation to join a gang because they have a place. Also, there is social pressure from the rest of the team to not to try to attempt the very dangerous trip “North” if they would be losing their goalie for forward!
Before starting the Goals for Kids program for younger children, it was necessary to prepare the playground and to involve the parents and get their support. This year 125 young children participated in classes for 4 through 6 year olds.
