Inter Campus Argentina expands

BUENOS AIRES – Inter Campus officially opened the new site in Puerto Iguazú on their last trip to Argentina. Inter Campus will work alongside Fundación London Supply at the centre in the province of Misiones, while training of local staff in Buenos Aires continued along with the sporting and educational work of the PUPI Foundation.

In 2010, Fundación London Supply built  Parque Educativo for the residents of the Primero de Mayo neighbourhood of Puerto Iguazú. The primary school is equipped with all mod coms, replacing the previous institution which was in disrepair and unsuitable for children.

The Primero de Mayo neighbourhood has developed recently due to the emigration of entire families from the centre of Argentina and Paraguay in search of work. There are serious problems related to hygiene, as well as food shortages and instances of diseases typical in areas of poverty and social exclusion.

Parque Educativo is situated in the middle of a residential area and allows hundreds of boys and girls to study in a safe environment and meets their most basic needs, for example a daily meal.

Inter Campus now provides a further educational outlet, helping the children to develop, play and grow. The programme organises regular sessions to train PE staff and will over time work with 150 boys and girls.

Despite the torrential rain, the opening was met with delight and enthusiasm against a backdrop of music from the local orchestra and dancing to the tune of Pazza Inter. The children’s excitement was infectious and they couldn’t wait to receive their Nerazzurri shirts and start playing. Practical sessions and training were run over the next few days, before the visit came to an end with a trip to the towering waterfalls of Iguazú, which some of the kids were seeing for the first time.

Inter Campus’ long-time partner in Argentina, the PUPI Foundation also attended the opening. The foundation works in Remedios de Escada (Buenos Aires), which played host to the second part of Inter Campus’ trip.

Boys and girls from the project gave us a warm welcome as they waited excitedly for the return of the coaches from Milan. The local staff were also there to greet us, keen as ever to exchange ideas.

Just like in Puerto Iguazú, there’s also a huge contrast between the neighbourhood where the children live and the foundation, which offers the youngsters a safe, warm, educational environment where they can enjoy new opportunities through football with the help of Inter Campus.

06.05.2015