Futbol con Corazón

Youth from low-income communities of Barranquilla, Colombia struggle to thrive in an environment characterized by high levels of violent crime, gang activity, substance use, recruitment for legal and illegal armed groups, school drop-out, malnutrition, domestic violence, sexual abuse, and early pregnancy. Drawing on sports’ potential as a tool for positive engagement and personal development, Futbol con Corazón (FCC) was founded in 2007 as a strategy for building youth leadership and strengthening community cohesion among selected low-income communities in Barranquilla. FCC’s innovative methodology blends values-based sports instruction with a nutrition program, health workshops, links to vocational training, parental engagement, and community outreach. as a means to improve young people‘s life prospects, decrease violence, and increase overall quality of life in their communities.

Mpower’s second grant to FCC supports the organization’s ongoing efforts to strengthen their ability to serve adolescent girls effectively through two girls-only soccer teams, life skills workshops aimed at building girls’ self-esteem and leadership skills, and a home visit program that engages girl mentors in efforts to learn more about (1) the challenges girls face at home and (2) how participation in FCC’s programs affects girls’ lives.