My name is Michael, I was born in Venezuela, but I’ve spent most of my life here in Colombia. I live in a community on an island off the coast of Cartagena. Here, the streets offer many distractions, like drugs, prostitution, or crime and aid doesn’t arrive easily. You have to find ways to manage and ensure that help reaches you.

Luckily, football came into my life to save it. I have been playing football my whole life, one of my dreams was to become a professional football player, but it didn’t happen. Even though I didn’t achieve that goal, I still want to help young people who share this dream to pursue it. And even if their dream doesn’t come true, through football, I can provide them with the tools to become someone in life. Offering them life skills, whether cognitive, emotional, or psychological.

Given the lack of opportunities drug addiction is a big issue here – there are many children who start using drugs at an early age and there are also many young girls who are already involved in prostitution. For years, we’ve been working with Fútbol con Corazón to reduce and mitigate substance abuse and address the problem of prostitution. We do this through playful activities, fun and dynamic games, helping the children learn lessons that not only apply on the field but also reflect in their personal lives.

I’m excited to put into practice everything I’ve learned during the training in my community. I want to use the strategies I’ve gained and adapt them so that the children can have fun while learning, and most importantly, find a sense of direction for their future.