The impact of Football: Ander from Honduras
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Honduras children participating in “Fútbol para la vida” (Football for life), a programme that teaches moral and ethical values.
Ander's story
My name is Ander Vasquez from Honduras and I’m 14 years old. I live with my family in Villanueva, a neighborhood in Tegucigalpa which is mostly known for violent gangs.
My life has changed a lot since I participated in “Fútbol para la vida” (Football for life). It was set up in 2002 by UNICEF and Ricardo Álvarez, the former president of the National Commission for Sports Facilities and Héctor Zelaya. Héctor was the first Honduran to score a goal for our country in the 1982 World Cup. He’s a national hero.
I think that “Fútbol para la vida” shows that playing football can change the lives of children. The program teaches us about moral and ethical values. It teaches us to stay away from drugs, alcohol and gangs and encourages us to stay in school. I now study harder because you need good grades in order to be part of "Fútbol para la vida". Before I participated in the program, my friends and I just used to walk around the streets barefoot. But now, all we do is play football.
Most of the kids who are part of the program are also from Villenueva and because we’re involved in the program, I think our neighborhood has become a better place. It used to be one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Honduras, but now it is different and there’s less crime. My father also thinks that playing sport has given me a new ambition. I want to have a healthy body and mind and stay away from drugs.
Like this story? Read similar stories about the impact of football in South Africa or in the Ivory Coast.
