In Venezuela, guided by CIES Coordinator Victor Ledezma, a dozen alumni from the UNIMET/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme - supported by GDI - are in the process of implementing an ambitious project aimed at using football to tackle violence and crime.
Venezuela, unfortunately, is known to be one of the most dangerous countries in the world. In Caracas, the Petare district experiences record-levels of crime in areas such as the illegal possession of firearms, drug trafficking and murders. Further, based on 2016 statistics, over 90% of victims of violent death were aged between 12 and 20.
To tackle this scourge on society and one which is so detrimental to the country that it leaves large sections of Venezuelan youth on the margins of society, a dozen alumni from the UNIMET/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme, guided by the CIES local coordinator, have decided to join forces. The idea is to offer children and teenagers in the district the opportunity to build a new identity based on solidarity, community and self-respect, through activities related to football.
Victor Ledezma, who initiated the idea, comments: “In such a difficult environment, we cannot give up. I am delighted to have brought together so many motivated people, willing to stand up and say NO to violence. When our project is in place, we will be able to make an active contribution - at our level - to improving life in our country. It will be a source of great satisfaction.”
The project, which will be organised around a former hacienda, will allow approximately 300 children and teenagers aged 8 to 19 - both boys and girls - to play football with a view to later joining an active club. Furthermore, working with language institutes and junior high schools in the area, the project also aims to improve education for the young people concerned, to raise awareness of themes such as nutrition and to facilitate their access to the jobs market. In numerous ways, the project will have many positive outcomes for the local community.
We wish every success to the UNIMET/FIFA/CIES Executive Programme alumni and their partners who are combining their talent, time and energy to tackle the spread of violence and make a difference thanks to sport and football.
Well done Henry Travieso, Joel Teixeira, Yescenia Rodriguez, Hector Gonzalez, Eduardo Basalo, Roger Rondon, Mario Fernandez, Paola Cristofini, Jesus Gonzalez, Yubelys Achury, Carlos Noguera, Maria Del Pilar Modroño Rosa and Victor Ledezma.