Life skills + Soccer for 350 boys in Brazil

At just 15 years old, Enzo is already discovering the power of sport not only as a passion, but as a path for personal growth and leadership. As a sports monitor at ACER Brasil, he has been building experience, confidence and a strong sense of purpose while supporting children and adolescents through futsal.

Being a young monitor brings both surprises and opportunities. Enzo says that many people assume he is older and are surprised when they discover his age. For him, however, starting early is an advantage. It allows him to gain valuable experience in an area he hopes to continue pursuing in the future.

“I have a very strong connection with sport,” Enzo explains. “It is something I want to take forward in my life and pursue in the future. I think I started early, and that gives me important experience.”

Alongside the excitement of working in sport, Enzo also recognises the challenges. One of the most important lessons he has learned is how to communicate with children in the best possible way. Through his role at ACER, he has developed not only practical skills, but also greater self-confidence.

“My biggest challenge within ACER was overcoming my shyness,” he says. “I have always been very shy, so it was difficult to get past that, but here I have gradually been learning and developing.”

For Enzo, the children themselves are the greatest source of motivation. Their energy, enthusiasm and affection make every day meaningful. He describes the joy of seeing children run towards him, full of excitement, eager to share their goals and celebrate their achievements.

“Anyone who is a teacher knows what it is like to see several children running up and saying: ‘Teacher, today I’m going to score three goals and celebrate with you.’ Their energy is really good, and it is something that makes you happy even on a sad day.”

Enzo says he feels especially valued when he sees a child smile after managing to dribble past someone or achieve something they had been trying to do. These small moments of progress and happiness are what make his work so rewarding.

He also has a clear message for other young people who dream of working in sport: “It is a really good area and I recommend it. This is my dream and I am going to work hard to achieve it. For anyone who wants to be a futsal teacher, like me, you can be sure that you will never regret it.”

André’s story shows how ACER Brasil’s young monitors play an important role in strengthening youth leadership. Through sport, they develop confidence, communication skills, responsibility and meaningful bonds with the children and adolescents supported by the organisation. At the same time, they become positive role models, showing that leadership can begin at any age.

*We have changed Enzo's name to guarantee his privacy aas he is under 18.