Life skills + Soccer for 350 boys in Brazil

One of the most important aspects of our work with boys and young teenagers who live in very challenging circumstances both at home and the community is the possibility of us providing them with positive role models in order that they can envisage positive futures for themselves being young men who contribute both to their families and to society. We also recognise that children will bond with different adults and so all of our sessions are delived by a team of two - a coach and a youth monitor who is always a high school student who has come up through the project and who, on becoming a youth monitor is contracted as an intern so that not only do they gain a financial scholarship but also a valuable item to put on their curriculum. We have just selected a new youth monitor, Wenderson who I interviewed this week and whose words I share with you now:

"I started doing sports at ACER when I was seven years old and I love futsal, I love watching, playing and also sharing what I know with other children. I want to continue developing so that one day I can become a top level coach with a lot of knowledge to share with others. I started to think about being something more than just a player when I was 13 years old; I saw other teenagers and young people getting opportunities through ACER to become youth monitors and at the beginning of this year when a selection process opened up, I took part; initially I wasn't chosen but I really wanted to be in this new space so I spoke to ACER's general manager, Andressa and asked if I could become a volunteer. That is really how I started to become a youth monitor. My job is to work with the coach doing planning, help give training and to teach the children all the basic skills and how to play. It is a really unique experience for me, the children all have a very good relationship with me and they all call me coach and that is something that makes me incredibly happy. I work with several different classes and age groups - 8 to 10 year olds, 11 to 13 year olds and 14 & 15 year olds. Now that I will be getting the scholarship the relations with my family will change because I will be able to contribute financially and also I will be able to buy things that I need. With all that I am learning now on the job, looking forward to when I graduate from high school, I want to go to university and get a physical education degree so that I can be ever better."

We thank you for your continuing support and hope that you have enjoyed reading this progress update.