Latin America and the Caribbean
Latin America and the Caribbean
Sports Gift has distributed sports equipment to over 12 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. The poverty is severe in many countries in this region. Our gifts include orphanages and other youth programs where the children are facing significant challenges. Below are some of the stories from the Latin America and the Caribbean region during 2010 and 2009:
2010
Belize
Partner Organization:
Believers World Outreach Missions
Items Donated: 229
Children Impacted:
100+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, soccer
uniforms, basketballs and other sports equipment was donated to the children of
Sand Pedro, Belize. Many of the Belizean children suffer from broken
homes, teenage unwanted pregnancies, and simple neglect and abandonment. Belize
has long been an important trans-shipment link in the chain of drug supply
between the producers of South and Central America, creating a deluge in
illegal drugs. As always, the children become the victims. Many of the children
do not have school supplies, proper shoes, and uniforms that are required for
attending school. Though few orphanages exist, countless children are
neglected. Belize is a country that is spiritually malnourished.
Costa Rica
Partner Organization: Portantorchas
Items Donated: 225
Children Impacted: 90+
This gift of sports equipment
included soccer uniforms, goalie jerseys, soccer balls, shin guards, playground
equipment and coaching kit. This sports equipment was given to a poverty stricken orphanage and
school where underprivileged children go. This community is located in
southern Costa Rica near San José, capital. The sports equipment went to the orphanage and also to the
outreach program to go out to other villages.
Costa Rica
Para la Familia
Items Donated: 152
Children Impacted:
40+
This gift of softball equipment included softballs, jerseys,
shirts, mitts, bats and other related softball equipment. The mission of this
program is to develop the possibility for involvement in sports without regard
to age, gender or ability in an environment of respect and camaraderie. This
program seeks to reach various low-income neighborhood communities—between
40 and 50 children. They worked in the metropolitan area of Cost Rica but they
hope to spread their reach throughout all of Costa Rica.
Dominican Republic
Partner Organization:
MyPlace
Items Donated: 8,263
Children Impacted:
6,000+
This gift of sports equipment
included baseballs, bats, mitts, uniforms, catchers gear, basketballs,
volleyballs, running shoes and other sports equipment. The sports equipment was given to Santo
Domingo where large families of 2-5 kids live in terrible conditions. The
majority of the families live in the cities gutters along with contaminated
water and filth, while many other families live just beyond the city of Santo
Domingo. Here, in "La Canada," the wealth of Santo Domingo is completely gone,
replaced with alcoholism, prostitution and child abuse.
Dominican Republic
Partner Organization: Christ Community Church of Milpitas
Items Donated: 343
Children Impacted:
200+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, baseballs,
bats, helmets, jerseys and other sports equipment. They went to the town of
Boca Chica, just outside Snato Domingo. They came in contact with about 100 families as well as a Haitian
refugee camp which houses several families. The locals in Boca Chica are very poor. For example, they live in 'siding'
houses with dirt floor. The children do attend school, but are very desperate
for food and clothing, as well as any luxury items. Therefore, this sports
equipment was a great gift for them.
Ecuador
Partner Organization: Coast Hills Community Church
Items Donated: 691
Children Impacted:
130+
This gift of soccer equipment included soccer balls, soccer
uniforms, shin guards, cleats and other related soccer equipment. This is a
community church that took 31 high school students to Ecuador to do sports and
construction in the jungle. They went to Shandia in
Ecuador. It is highly rural jungle community, no phones or electronics. The
community is about 500 people, and most of them have not left the jungle. They
live in raised huts and many of them sleep on the floor.
El Salvador
Partner Organization: The Crossing
Items Donated: 231
Children Impacted:
200+
This gift of soccer equipment included balls, uniforms, shin
guards, cleats, cones, pennies and other related soccer equipment. This equipment
was used for outreach, and this program served the entire community through a
local church. The community is in Las Dalicias, El
Salvador, which is very impoverished. For instance, there is no running water.
Haiti
Partner Organization: Children of the Nations
Items Donated: 1,040
Children Impacted:
5,000+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, soccer balls,
soccer uniforms, baseballs, baseball uniforms, gloves/mitts and other sports
equipment. This sports equipment was shipped to the Dominican Republic then
Haitian pastors distributed to the most needed areas in an orderly manner.
Currently, the Haitian children are traumatized and play therapy is very
helpful. Soccer and baseball are popular sports, and the equipment helped many
children in surrounding Port-au-Prince area.
Haiti
Partner Organization: Delta Ministries International
Items Donated: 203
Children Impacted:
30+
This gift of soccer equipment included uniforms, goalie jerseys,
soccer balls and cones. One of this program's priorities is to provide
wholesome after school activities for children who have no home and nowhere to
go. They worked in Cabaret, a town about 30 minutes outside of Port-au-Prince.
There is a tent city that was initially supported by Samaritan's Purse. The local
pastor is trying to build a school for the children in the tent city.
Haiti
Partner Organization: International Youth Initiative
Items Donated: 173
Children Impacted:
1,000+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, jerseys,
cones, pennies and other sports equipment was given to a community just outside
of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. This community had substantial damage after the
earthquake and is home to several tent cities. Most youth are poorly educated,
not in school, belong to jobless families, homeless, and living in extreme
poverty. Through developing a basketball program and in the future, a youth
soccer league, this program aims to bring hope and vision to the most desolate
of situations.
Haiti
Partner Organization: Kids Around the World
Items Donated: 1,039
Children Impacted:
1,600+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer uniforms, shin
guards, soccer balls, t-shirts, running shoes and other sports equipment. The
mission of this program is to provide hope to children where there is little
reason to hope. The sports equipment was donated to Haiti, to an orphanage just outside Port-au-Prince. The
orphanage is called Love A Child, and they have a main center near
Port-au-Prince, and several satellite locations with smaller children's homes
and feeding centers.
Haiti
Partner Organization: Promise Child
Items Donated: 2,236
Children Impacted:
1,000+
This gift of sports equipment included running shoes, t-shirts,
soccer uniforms, soccer balls, basketballs, footballs and other sports
equipment. This program worked with Calvary Chapel Caneille which is located in Caneille, Haiti which is a rural
community in a remote, mountainous area in the Central Plateau of Haiti. There
is no electricity or running water. The poverty is extreme. Children have few
social activities or diversions to enjoy. However, the children love soccer and
there are several teams in the area that play for enjoyment. Some play barefoot
on an open field, sometimes putting on adult men socks to give the appearance of
real soccer team apparel.
Haiti
Partner Organization: U2U
Items Donated: 214
Children Impacted:
50+
This gift of soccer equipment included uniforms, goalie jerseys,
balls and other related soccer equipment. This program collects soccer uniforms
and equipment and distribute to redevelopment projects that it has relationship
with. The soccer equipment was given to the island of Lagonave off Port-au-Prince, Haiti. There are devastated communities, and the equipment
was donated to orphanages, schools and hospitals.
Honduras
Partner Organization: Ocean Hills Community Church
Items Donated: 283
Children Impacted:
200+
This gift of sports equipment included basketballs, soccer balls,
soccer uniforms, playground balls and other sports equipment. This church had a
mission trip to the island of Roatan off the coast of
Honduras. Their goal was to reach out to people through humanitarian aspects
such as sports and medical needs. They went to the city of Helence. Ths island of Honduras is split by a river that
separates it into two parts. Helence has no roads, no
running water and no electricity. The entire population of the area is around
Mexico
Partner Organization: Corazon de Vida Foundation
Items Donated: 572
Children Impacted:
750+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer uniforms, soccer
balls, running shoes, basketballs, footballs and other sports equipment. This
sport equipment was used in Baja Mexico orphanages, mostly at the homes but
some on organized teams. These children are either orphans, homeless, come from
abusive households, extreme poverty and other circumstances. This program has
supported 9 orphanages in Tijuana and 5 in Ensenada mostly with food, water,
utility, education, medical and housing.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Foundation for his Ministry
Items Donated: 161
Children Impacted:
125+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, basketballs,
volleyballs, baseballs and other sports equipment. This program has missions in
Mexico with over 200 children (babies-teens). It has an asphalt playground
that, with equipment, could be better used for volleyball and basketball. It
also has a large grass area that can be used for soccer and baseball/softball.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Grace Outreach
Items Donated: 1,536
Children Impacted:
350+
This gift of sports equipment included running shoes, soccer
balls, soccer uniforms, basketballs, baseballs, mitts, footballs, playground
balls and other sports equipment. This sports equipment was donated to Rosarito, Mexico to small colonies surrounding Rosarito that have recently formed youth teams in a league
and do not have any uniforms or equipment. Most children live in shacks and
have never had a uniform of their own because their parents struggle to provide
the basic needs of food and shelter. The teams recently formed and are playing
on Sunday afternoons in a league that was approved by the city and is being run
by the Youth Pastor at calvary Chapel Rosarito.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Rosarito Beach Christian Church
Items Donated: 464
Children Impacted:
250+
This gift of soccer equipment included balls, uniforms, shin
guards, cleats and other related soccer equipments. This program has reached
out to the community of Baa, Mexico to help supply needy children with some
basic needs. The living conditions are from middle class to extreme poverty.
Many of the families are a one parent family usually the mother, and most of
the living conditions are very poor. These children receive no gifts or toys
except through donations.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Saddleback Church
Items Donated: 190
Children Impacted:
100+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer balls, pennies,
cones, jump ropes and other sports equipment. This program worked with 2
Purpose Driven churches in Ensenada, Mexico—La Vina and El Gran Rey. Both areas are of low socioeconomic status. Part of their time
in ministry was spent in introducing the five purposes to the children of the
community through soccer clinics.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Transformación
Urbana Internacional, A.C.
Items Donated: 156
Children Impacted: 150+
This gift of soccer equipment
included uniforms, goalie jerseys, balls, cleats, cones and other related
soccer equipment. This program has offered young people ages 12-25 meaningful
recreational activities, mentoring, life skills training, psycho-spiritual
development, leadership training, while helping them implement community
improvement projects. The program is in the process of starting a street soccer
league that will significantly increase the number of youth involved in that
project.
Mexico
Partner Organization: Vista Assembly of God
Items Donated: 948
Children Impacted: 300+
This gift of sports equipment
included baseballs, bats, gloves, soccer uniforms, t-shirts, running shoes and
other sports equipment was given to Tijuana, Mexico. This area is very poor and
giving these underprivileged children sports equipment help them have an
interest in sports and keep their mind occupied instead of going out in the
streets and cause harm to themselves. Tijuana is known for being a high risk
city, and this program believes that with being a blessing they can see that
there are still people out there that want to help instead of trying to hurt them.
Mexico
Partner Organization:
Baja Girls Softball League
Items Donated: 1,141
Children Impacted:
400+
This gift of softball equipment included bats, cleats,
softballs, batting gloves, t-shirts, bases and other equipment was given to a
small fishing town in Mexico. Though the town does not have much to provide for
its youth, the children remain happy and eager to learn. The recreation girl's
softball league hopes to get children ages 6 to 14 off the dirt streets and
onto the softball diamond. The softball league gives them a place to be
inspired by life's endless opportunities.
Nicaragua
Partner Organization: Bring It Promotions
Items Donated: 588
Children Impacted:
500+
This gift of sports equipment included baseballs, bats, mitts,
baseball jerseys, hats, soccer uniforms, soccer balls and other sports
equipment. This program distributes sports goods to youth programs outside of
San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. There about 10,000 inhabitants in the areas just
south of the tourist center of San Juan del Sur. Most live in small villages of
about 250 and the poorer communities subsist on about $3/day. This program
works primarily with the people from Las Delicias,
"Container," El Carizal, and Escamaquita which comprise somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 people with children
spread over about 10 schools of various sizes.
Panama
Partner Organization: Calvary Chapel of Costa Mesa
Items Donated: 963
Children Impacted:
400+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer uniforms, soccer
balls, baseballs, baseball mitts, basketballs, volleyballs and other sports
equipment. Their mission trip to Panama was with a team of high school
students, and was designed to give them an opportunity for practical ministry
by serving the community, the church, and the people of Panama. They worked in
Panama City, Chorrerra and Los Mortales,
and most of their outreach was to a fairly poor group of people including a
local orphanage, two fire stations and a street children program in Curundu.
Panama
Partner Organization: Global Business Brigades at UCLA
Items Donated: 295
Children Impacted:
80+
This gift of sports equipment included soccer uniforms, soccer
balls, basketballs, volleyballs and other sports equipment. The business
brigade volunteers went to the Island of Niadup in the
San Blas Islands off the coast of Panama. The community has about 200
inhabitants and about 40% are children. In the afternoon, the community enjoys
participating in a wide range of activities, especially sports. They are
excellent volleyball, soccer and basketball players and organize daily games.
2009
Columbia
Items Donated: 736
Children Impacted: 800+
This sports
equipment will support a youth soccer program in Barranquilla,
Columbia, which assists vulnerable boys and girls. The children that
live in this community are from low-income neighborhoods and
constantly exposed to activities that negatively affect their
development. Drugs, gangs, violence, sexual abuse and prostitution in
combination with lack of positive role models and an excess of free
time negatively impact their ability to improve their life situation.
This program uses sports to assist children in gaining valuable life
lessons and avoiding negative distractions around them. This program
provides soccer tournaments and games for the children as well as
educational programs, psychological guidance, and nutritional
supplements.
Costa Rica
Items Donated: 48
Children Impacted: 50+
This gift of
sports equipment included soccer balls, uniforms, and playground
equipment, was sent to an orphanage just outside of San Jose, Costa
Rica. These children have been abandoned by their parents. The
orphanage schools the children academically as well as spiritually
and now plans to host a camp with the kids with this new sports
equipment.
Cuba
Items Donated: 197
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of
sports equipment included bats, cleats, softballs, batting gloves,
soccer equipment and other sports equipment. Cuba has a closed-door
system of trade and many resources such as sports equipment are not
generally available to families living in poverty. Cuba still
operates their food distribution by a rationing system.
Dominican Republic
Items Donated: 6,604
Children Impacted: 6,000+
This gift of
sports equipment included baseballs, bats, mitts, uniforms, catchers
gear, basketballs, volleyballs, running shoes and other sports
equipment. The sports equipment was given to Santo Domingo where
large families of 2-5 kids live in terrible conditions. The majority
of the families live in the cities gutters along with contaminated
water and filth, while many other families live just beyond the city
of Santo Domingo. Here, in “La Canada,” the wealth of
Santo Domingo is completely gone, replaced with alcoholism,
prostitution and child abuse.
Dominican Republic
Items Donated: 90
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift
included baseballs, bats, batting helmets, mitts and other baseball
supplies. This gift was made to an orphanage in Santo Domingo,
Dominican Republic.
El Salvador
Items Donated: 128
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of
soccer balls, cleats and uniforms went to help a week-long camp of
children ages 10-14 in San Runan, El Salvador. This week away from
families and their impoverished lifestyle is very beneficial for the
kids who not only learn soccer, but many other life skills. The
program includes teachers, athletes and artists who have two main
goals: to improve soccer experience, and to empower the youth.
Guatemala
Items Donated: 101
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of
sports equipment included basketballs, uniforms and coaching
supplies. The goal of this program is to expose children to sports
when they would otherwise not have the opportunity. The population of
Panajachel is only 15,000 and the monthly income for a family of 8 is
under $170. There are only 2 primary schools and no middle or high
schools. The dropout rate for primary schools is 70%. There are no
playgrounds or sports for all teenagers and kids. There is a high
crime rate and rising drug addiction among teens. People live in
shacks with dirt floors, outhouses and cook outdoors. Kids who go to
school also work full days in the fields. There is a 50% death rate
for infants. Child labor starts at age 9 and the illiteracy rate is
30%. There are 33 soccer teams with kids and teens that play for free
each weekend.
Honduras
Items Donated: 840
Children Impacted: 800+
This gift of
sports equipment included T-shirts, running shoes and warm ups. This
community is on the small island of Roatan, which has a population of
100,000, a large portion of whom are impoverished. This program works
with impoverished children in the community to provide education and
other services, however the children still receive limited education
and very few recreational activities.
Honduras
Items Donated: 439
Children Impacted: 300+
This gift
included soccer balls, uniforms, cleats, shin guards, basketballs,
baseball supplies and other sports equipment. This gift was made to
a Peace Corp volunteer serving in the village of San Marcos Guaimaca,
Francisco Morazán in Honduras. She is organizing a sports
program as part of her teaching service in the village. There are no
paved roads, no electricity, no telephones, no stores or markets in
the village, with the nearest community with traditional stores being
1.5 hours away. Most girls in Honduras have never played organized
sports, so this is a very special gift.
Mexico
Items Donated: 1,092
Children Impacted: 500+
This gift of
sports equipment included softballs, bats, cleats, catchers gear,
uniforms and other equipment. Baja, Mexico has communities with
extreme poverty with families living in shacks with no electricity or
running water. The goal of this program is to provide food,
clothing, toys, recreation and spiritual support to the children
living in poverty in this community.
Mexico
Items Donated: 434
Children Impacted: 150+
This gift of
softball equipment included bats, cleats, softballs, batting gloves,
t-shirts, bases and other equipment was given to a small fishing town
in Mexico. Though the town does not have much to provide for its
youth, the children remain happy and eager to learn. The recreation
girl’s softball league hopes to get children ages 6 to 14 off
the dirt streets and onto the softball diamond. The softball league
gives them a place to be inspired by life’s endless
opportunities.
Mexico
Items Donated: 1,080
Children Impacted: 500+
This gift of
sports equipment included softballs, bats, cleats, catchers gear,
uniforms and other equipment for children in Baja, Mexico. El Sauzal
is about 15 minutes north of Ensenada in Baja, Mexico. This program
goes to the economically challenged areas of Baja and operates a
girl’s softball league to teach the kids and teens to play, and
have good leadership and teamwork skills. The city is very small and
most parents fish for a living. The kids play in the dirty streets
and live in humble homes and the city is unable to provide them with
positive activities.
Mexico
Items Donated: 198
Children Impacted: 200+
This gift of
sports equipment included soccer equipment such as balls, uniforms,
basketball, volleyballs, footballs and playground sports equipment.
This was given to an orphanage in El Sauzal, Mexico which was
thrilled to get new jerseys that just happened to be the orphanage’s
colors! Soccer balls were also given to members of the surrounding
community. Young men taught soccer, and many other skills to the
children. The foundation of their soccer coaching was a strong team,
working as one unit to demonstrate that success can be achieved
through team work. Though this family run orphanage has many dreams
for the future, they are greatly limited by expenses. One of their
goals is simply to offer breakfast to the starving children in the
community, so a gift as nice as this sports equipment meant a lot.
Mexico
Items Donated: 247
Children Impacted: 750+
This gift of
sports equipment included softballs, bats, cleats, catchers gear,
uniforms and other equipment to support orphanages in Tijuana and
Ensenada. The living conditions are extremely poor and the
orphanages provide an escape for the children from abandonment,
homelessness or abusive parents. Over 14 orphanages are supported by
this program; 9 in Tijuana and 5 in Ensenada, including providing
food, water, education, medical care and housing.
Mexico
Items Donated: 399
Children Impacted: 200+
This gift of
sports equipment included soccer balls, uniforms cleats, shin guards,
basketballs, playground equipment and other equipment for children at
an orphanage in Tijuana, Mexico. The orphanage takes in children who
have been abandoned or otherwise lost their parents to give them a
home and the resources, protection and environment to grow. The
living conditions for the children are very poor, so it is a very
special gift for them to get sports equipment.
Mexico
Items Donated: 35
Children Impacted: 850+
This gift of
volleyballs and jerseys helped to create the first annual Amistad
(friendship) Volleyball Tournament in Marua, Mexico, a suburb of
Tijuana. Marua is a poor industrial community where most inhabitants
are factory workers or unemployed. Most youth lack resources that
would enable then to be productive adults- quality education, medical
care and positive role models are foreign. However, sports can
distract the youth from their dismal circumstances, steer them away
from drug trade violence and teach self-confidence and morals
determination and hope.
Peru
Items Donated: 109
Children Impacted: 100+
This gift of
soccer and basketball equipment was given to help this community on
the shore of the Pequeni River in Emberra, Peru, which greatly
struggles financially. Due to the poverty, the children are limited
in activities, but enjoy coloring and making up games. The community
is very poor and most families live on less than $100 per month.
Families live in traditional hut like houses and the children like to
color, play in the nearby river, and play basketball. This gift will
greatly add to the games that they can play in their community.