On October 4th Habitat for Humanity Argentina organized a brigade in Luján of a group of young people from St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church in Olivos. These young people not only helped with the construction of houses at the building site, but they also worked to improve a small soccer field for “El Trebol” a community soccer school.
The group was divided into two: half the brigade helped with the construction of houses and the other half helped in the soccer field. There they sanded and painted the goalposts and seats, they marked the boundaries with lime and put up a surrounding fence. “One always wishes to help, but I’ve never thought we could help in this way, coming and putting our hands to work… so that children can have a soccer field that is so important for them” said Jennifer Moeller, one of the volunteers.
This kind of initiative enables HPHA to reach out to more of the local community by helping in community projects.
When the working day was over, heat and tiredness did not prevent some of the brigade from joining youngsters from one of the Church groups in a short soccer game, using the newly painted goalposts!
The soccer field is the place where over 100 youngsters from low income families in the neighborhood get together to play around four times a week. Juan Giovanetone, who belongs to one of the “Incremental Improvements” families, has worked with the children for the past 14 years. Seven years ago he got some disused land donated by the Municipality, and with the help of many parents of the children, friends and neighbors, the soccer field was inaugurated.
One of Juan’s sons plays in the club “Ferrocarril Oeste”, and at weekends he helps his father with the training. Furthermore, when the youngsters grow up and no longer play, most of them keep helping, thus teaching the younger ones from their own experience.
Surprisingly for many of us, Juan is not a fan of any professional soccer team, but the explanation he gives is quite convincing: “Professional soccer is all about the money; here the game is just an excuse for the kids to leave the street and for everyone to learn together about commitment and team work”.
The group was divided into two: half the brigade helped with the construction of houses and the other half helped in the soccer field. There they sanded and painted the goalposts and seats, they marked the boundaries with lime and put up a surrounding fence. “One always wishes to help, but I’ve never thought we could help in this way, coming and putting our hands to work… so that children can have a soccer field that is so important for them” said Jennifer Moeller, one of the volunteers.
This kind of initiative enables HPHA to reach out to more of the local community by helping in community projects.
When the working day was over, heat and tiredness did not prevent some of the brigade from joining youngsters from one of the Church groups in a short soccer game, using the newly painted goalposts!
The soccer field is the place where over 100 youngsters from low income families in the neighborhood get together to play around four times a week. Juan Giovanetone, who belongs to one of the “Incremental Improvements” families, has worked with the children for the past 14 years. Seven years ago he got some disused land donated by the Municipality, and with the help of many parents of the children, friends and neighbors, the soccer field was inaugurated.
One of Juan’s sons plays in the club “Ferrocarril Oeste”, and at weekends he helps his father with the training. Furthermore, when the youngsters grow up and no longer play, most of them keep helping, thus teaching the younger ones from their own experience.
Surprisingly for many of us, Juan is not a fan of any professional soccer team, but the explanation he gives is quite convincing: “Professional soccer is all about the money; here the game is just an excuse for the kids to leave the street and for everyone to learn together about commitment and team work”.
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