Overcoming obstacles in Paraguay

ASUNCION – It’s never easy to quantify the social value of the Inter Campus project. Terms like corporate social responsibility, football as a vehicle for education and character building are certainly relevant, yet it is often the little things that truly strike right to the heart of what Inter Campus is looking to achieve.

The Inter Campus project in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion was set up by former footballer Julio Gonzalez Ferreira, who had to have his left arm amputated following a car accident during his time at Vicenza. He is a man who appreciates more than most the value of having a dedicated support structure around you in times of need.

“Nothing grows from diamonds, but flowers grow from dirt,” sang Italian musician Fabrizio De Andrè back in the 1960s, and there is surely no better way to sum up the two Inter Campus sites at the Aldea SOS orphanage and Cateura rubbish dump. Even just a few years ago, it would have been impossible to think of children divided up by age, arriving at the pitch at their allotted time and ready to play football.

The pitch had to be completely rebuilt courtesy of a great deal of elbow grease from Inter Campus coaches Raimundo and Fermin following a recent flood, which left the shacks of Cateura strewn over the field of play. It now has a slight slope, to stop the same thing happening again.

It is the passion of Raimundo and Fermin that’s allowing more than 120 youngsters to continue playing and learning from the Inter Campus methodology rather than going to work amongst the stinking rubbish. In this way, we are guaranteeing these children’s right to play – a fundamental right for all young people, all over the world.

It matters not that one of the goals, made from bamboo and broken in half, often flops down onto the ground during training. It matters not that the other, though made of wood, is far bigger than its counterpart. And it matters not that horses and pigs roam freely during the game, while bulldozers push the rubbish around and level the ground for more shacks right beside the pitch.

What really matters is that thanks to football the kids cease to be ill tempered and aggressive and instead become enthusiastic and ready to enjoy themselves. Our coaches are always there, supporting the youngsters through the practical and theory-based sessions.

It’s wonderful to see the passion with which our coaches direct the training sessions. One of these is Kevin, who himself used to be an Inter Campus youngster, and Reinaldo, who grew up at the Aldea orphanage and proudly shows us around the place he spent his childhood.

The coaches eagerly take notes throughout our sessions. Celso, Fermin and Raimundo might no longer be spring chickens, but it’s touching to see them getting swept up in youthful excitement as they look forward to trying their new skills out on the kids.

The project here in Paraguay was launched nearly ten years ago now. From a simple seed, it has grown into something beautiful thanks to the hard work of all involved. Our trip proved that we are starting to see the fruit of those efforts.

24.05.2016