October 14, 2022, 22:41 PM
October 14, 2022, 22:41 PM
A women’s soccer team made up of Bolivian teenagers between 14 and 17 years old, will face the representatives of the United States, this Saturday the 15th, in the Street Child World Cup Quarterfinals, which takes place from October 7 to 18 in the city of Doha (Qatar) and is organized by Street Child United.
The Bolivian delegation is made up of adolescents from the homes of the Alalay Foundation of La Paz and Santa Cruz, They have been preparing for a year and a half, according to their coach. In the group stage,Bolivian women played six matches and won three from them. The emotion is great, because if they win, they will be closer to reaching the final of this world cup.
“The Alalay team is in the quarterfinals of the World Cup, we are excited to see how an institution that is dedicated to giving them a safe space to develop their skills can make a difference,” they say in a statement.
28 teams from 24 countries participate in the Street Child World Cup 2022, who represent boys in a street situation. Of these, 13 teams are female and the remaining 15 are male. In addition to the sports tournament, the organization hosts an arts festival and conference “to champion the rights of neglected children around the world,” as Street Child United advertises on its website.
The women’s teams that participate in this version of the cup represent Brazil, Bangladesh, Bolivia, Colombia, United States, Philippines, India, Indonesia, Mexico, Palestine, Peru, Qatar and Zimbabwe.
Vianka Sandoval, from the Alalay Foundation, says that they received an invitation from Street Children United addressed to the Socio-sports School they have, in alliance with Real Madrid. In this way, Alalay sent his athletes, representing Bolivia.
Teenagers from the Alalay home represent Bolivia in the Street Child World Cup
For four years, the cup has been held in the same place where the World Cup will take place, and this is the second time that the girls from the Alalay Foundation participate; the previous time they went to Russia. For their transportation and stay, the Bolivian athletes have the support of the Maestro Cares Foundation, the Martha Bedoya de Claure Foundation and benefactors who support Alalay throughout the year.
About 550 children and adolescents at risk are supported by the Alalay Foundation, in Santa Cruz, La Paz, Cochabamba and El Alto. In Santa Cruz and La Paz there are villages where school support is also provided and in other situations that they require.
The Alalay Foundation has been working for three decades in the prevention and protection of girls and adolescents at risk and receives donations from those who show solidarity with its work and its beneficiaries. Donations can be made directly to the Foundation, through the current account of Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz S.A. No. 4010521029, payable to: Alalay Children’s Home. Another option consists of cover the daily needs of a child, girl or adolescent; can also be part of the program monthly aid to a specific child, called Friendly Heart. And the other alternative is volunteering.
