Introduction Camaquito / 'viva el fútbol'

The NGO Camaquito is convinced that sport is an important way of providing a lasting contribution to the development of children and adolescents. This is why sports activities have become an important component of Camaquito's project strategy. Camaquito focuses in particular on the 'viva el fútbol' project. And playing football is a way to broaden and improve the available leisure activities. This was the philosophy behind the program 'fútbol en los barrios' (football in the quartiers), a program that provides access to football and to sport in general for thousands of children. Providing technical support to footballers and coaches, as well as regular, national football camps are part of the concept.
The project is actively supported by Jörg Stiel, former captain of Switzerland's national football team.

What is „viva el fútbol“?

„viva el fútbol“ is one of the football projects in Cuba initiated by the children’s charity Camaquito (www.camaquito.org). Camaquito is a politically and confessionally independent, international charity that supports Cuban children and adolescents in the fields of health, education, sport and culture. Camaquito was founded in Switzerland in 2001, and then also in Germany. Camaquito has the status of a recognized children’s charity both in Europe and in Cuba.

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The football project "viva el fútbol"

Mark Kuster (Camaquito Founder & Director) and Jörg Stiel (ex-Captain Swiss National Team & Camaquito Ambassador for "viva el fútbol")

In 2006 two former Swiss sports students, and the NGO Camaquito had the idea of expanding the project strategy. Sport should be used to provide longer term support in the development of children and adolescents in Camagüey / Cuba. Sport provides more than physical activity and a way of staying healthy – it also has social components. It promotes a sense of belonging, is used as an instrument in tackling juvenile violence and drugs, and can be employed as a character developer and social integrator. In the months thereafter several discussions were held with the local and national football associations, other Cuban authorities and with the local population. Today the concept is mature, and consists of the following programs:

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The children’s football program “fútbol en los barrios" (football in the outskirts)

The program „fútbol en los barrios“(football in the outskirts) was conceived and is implemented as a way of helping the development of Cuban children and adolescents. The main objective is to provide children and adolescents in Camagüey Province with access to football. In this way we can provide not only a beneficial pastime, but also fulfill the specific wish of many Cuban children – to play football. In a wide variety of remoter city districts we convert unused plots of land into football pitches. And in doing so, Camaquito can rely on voluntary assistance provided by the Cuban population. At the same time some donation money can be used to buy balls and other football equipment, so that even the youngest get to play football. We also attach great importance to developing the skills of the local football coaches. In future workshops will be used for this purpose, in order to achieve the social objective of personality development via football. Camaquito is in the process of further developing this concept – for which purpose donor support is requested.
 

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