Hello Family and Friends!

I am currently attending Eckerd College in St. Petersburg, Florida, studying International Relations and French. This year I got the opportunity to go to Thailand, Cambodia, and Burma over winter term (January). Overseas I was able to work with different NGOs (Non-Governmental Organization) and engage in community service for three weeks. During my spring break, I chose to go to Venezuela, where I worked with disadvantaged kids.  I spent the week teaching english to 1st graders all the way up to high schoolers.  I have developed an itch for helping kids and their communities in underdeveloped countries.  After searching for summer internships, I was given the opportunity to help underprivileged kids in Nicaragua with the Non-Profit Organization, Soccer Without Borders.

Soccer Without Boarders is an amazing organization that was started in the USA, by people with the same itch for helping kids around the world.  Currently, they are operating in Uganda, Guatemala, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Soccer Without Borders is a community led program that develops youth programs for countries that are underdeveloped.  Their main focus is to help kids who do not have the same opportunities as us, like a proper education, playing soccer, other extracurricular activities.  By using soccer as a medium for change,  they are able to develop positive engagement, personal growth, team bonding, and a brighter future for these children.

My position in this organization is to be a summer coach in Nicaragua in the city of Grenada.  I will be coaching kids on and off the field through out the duration of almost 3 months!!  From teaching kids the skills of soccer, to teaching them english in the classroom, I will be a coach and a mentor for these kids.  I know from years of playing soccer, that the game can be used as a platform for success in other aspects of life.  I am truly excited about this opportunity, and I cannot wait to share everything I know about soccer and essential life skills to a child who might need someone to look up to.

However, along with this opportunity comes a great responsibility.  Soccer Without Borders requires their interns to fundraise a significant amount of money to help contribute to their cause.  The two main reasons for fundraising are: (1) Most of the funds help me pay for my living expenses i.e. three months of housing, food, transportation, etc. (2) all outstanding funds will go to the operational and program costs for the Nicaragua site where I will be interning.  In addition to that, I am also collecting all the soccer gear I can.  The soccer equipment will allow the children to play with real soccer balls, wear real cleats and perhaps even shin guards, a rarity in underdeveloped countries.  

If you have an interest in the Soccer Without Borders’ cause, please feel free to contact me,

by email: merivera@eckerd.edu

or, by phone: 575-770-0806

If you are willing to to contribute to the fundraising of my trip, please go to my donate page for more instructions.  Each donation helps, and Soccer without Borders, the little Nicaraguans, and I will greatly appreciate your help!

Thank you so much for supporting me in everything I do!  I cannot wait to tell you about my experiences and the different ways that Soccer Without Borders is helping to change to world!

Peace and Love,

 

Miranda Rivera