Written by: Ronald Zeledon, Logistics Team and Soccer Academy Coach, Comunidad Connect
In one of his many visits to the community of Los Robles, I got to know Jon Thompson while he worked with Comunidad Connect volunteers. One of those days I walked past the soccer field in town where Jon was watching the kids playing soccer and having a great time. This inspired Jon – he wanted to play.
Since Jon’s passion is soccer and sports in general, he loved the fervor the kids brought to the field. Jon started to brainstorm the possibility of supporting Los Robles through the game of soccer. One day we were working with a group of volunteers and Jon and I observed a group of girls playing soccer; they were filled with joy. We started talking and arrived at the idea of a Soccer Academy. With my knowledge and experience with soccer and working with kids, along with the push the Jon gave, we began to form the amazing idea of creating an Academy through Comunidad Connect.
I am the coach and Jon helps to raise funds for the materials we need for this pilot project. We know that it will be a fruitful project for the kids and young people in the community. The Academy will not just be related to soccer, but to practicing values, health and education.