U.S. Senator Tom Carper Visits Children International’s Mariscal Community Center in Guatemala
Senator Carper and USAID Staff Meet With Youth Participating in the “A Ganar” Program Which Utilizes Soccer to Develop Life Skills
U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-DE) visited Children International’s Mariscal community center, which serves some of the most vulnerable marginal communities in Guatemala City, Guatemala. He was accompanied by USAID’s Democracy & Governance Office (DGO) staff. USAID’s DGO implements a citizen security portfolio aimed to achieve “Greater Security and Justice for Citizens,” and among other things, USAID works in Guatemala to build awareness about the causes of violence and crime and to promote community-led violence prevention approaches focusing on youth development.
The visitors interacted with Children International youth who are currently participating in the Partners of the Americas’ A Ganar program, supported by USAID. A Ganar is a youth workforce development program that utilizes soccer to help at-risk youth in Guatemala City develop life skills such as teamwork, communication, discipline and respect. The program also teaches youth how to successfully apply these skills in their lives. Senator Carper learned how the program has helped participants gain confidence in themselves, prepare for a better future and hone workforce skills so that they can become good role models for other youth in their communities and serve as agents of positive change.
Michelle, an A Ganar program facilitator, explains, “The A Ganar program helps youth believe in themselves, and it gives them specific tools so that they can achieve their dreams by joining the workforce.”
Camila, an A Ganar program participant, adds, “Personally, the A Ganar program has allowed me to realize that there are better opportunities in life, to stay out of trouble, [and] to overcome the deaths of my friends who died because of the violence in my neighborhood and because of the bad decisions they made. And it has especially helped me to want something better for myself – a better life for myself and for my family.”
Learn more about Children International’s work in Guatemala.
Learn more about the A Ganar program.
About Children International
Children International prepares children and youth to escape the traps of poverty by supporting their critical needs, building resilience and engaging them in transformative activities. Children International accomplishes this by providing crucial benefits and compassionate care through easily accessible, modern community centers. Children International’s presence, programs and supporters have a positive impact on children, youth, families and communities; provide protection; encourage self-sufficiency; and serve as catalysts for change.
For more information about Children International, visit www.children.org.
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About A Ganar
The A Ganar Alliance promotes technical training for Latin American and Caribbean youth who are looking to improve their employability through futbol (soccer) and other team sports. Financed by the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF), and the US Agency for International Development (USAID), the A Ganar Alliance now operates in 18 countries. Overall program implementation is managed through Partners of the Americas. For more information, visit www.aganar.org or tweet @a_ganar.
