\n
RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) \u2014 WHEN Brazilian<\/span> Jo\u00e3o Victor Gon\u00e7alves started playing football during one of the following periods: rio de janeiro<\/span> Living in the poorest and most violent slums, little did he know that the game would one day allow him to travel abroad and play in international competitions.<\/p>\nLast month, he flew to Mexico with nine other boys to represent Brazil at the Street Child World Cup. The tournament was held in advance of this year’s World Cup, and is made up of boys from poor backgrounds, with teams from 30 countries participating. fifa world cup<\/span>.<\/p>\n“I never imagined that one day something like this would happen, that I would be representing my country in another country doing what I love the most, which is playing soccer,” said Gonsalves, 18. The Brazilian team won the tournament undefeated, adding to the thrill of the experience.<\/p>\n
Like many Brazilians, Gon\u00e7alves and his teammates grew up kicking a ball and watching members of Brazil’s national soccer team, the Selecao, up close. they will dream someday become a professional soccer player<\/span> Players like heroes.<\/p>\nThey say the project has already changed their lives.<\/p>\n
As well as being a gateway to the climate moment, the Street Child United Brazil project in the favela Pe\u00f1a complex allows participants to escape, at least temporarily, from everyday life marked by deprivation and violence, allowing them to develop a sense of safety, belonging and hope.<\/p>\n
The initiative began in 2014, when Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup. Approximately 100 youth currently participate in training sessions held four days a week throughout the year. This project involves girls and boys aged 6 and up.<\/p>\n
Playing soccer represents “love, passion and the fulfillment of dreams,” said Ryan Mercedes, 17, who also went to Mexico. \u201cOnce you get on the field, it\u2019s a fun and happy time.\u201d<\/p>\n
But soccer enthusiast Rafael Gomez says the realities of life in a favela sometimes catch up to them. Soccer fans have had to stop matches at least once due to police operations in slums. <\/p>\n
“Suddenly during training I got a shot, so I had to run and stay in the corner,” Gomez said.<\/p>\n
More than 120 people died last year in a deadly police operation<\/span> Members of the criminal organization Red Command have been targeted in Pe\u00f1a and the nearby Alemao shantytown complex.<\/p>\nDrug trafficking organizations controlled by the Trump administration I recently decided to categorize<\/span> As a foreign terrorist organization, it controls parts of the favelas. This is a temptation for minors who may be drawn to crime as a way to make quick cash.<\/p>\nDorika Santos, the project’s coordinator, said the organization aims to provide an alternative to that lifestyle.<\/p>\n
“If this project did not exist, we would have lost many lives,” Santos said. “We’re not going to save everyone, but if we can save the most children who aren’t involved in drug trafficking, that’s already a win for us.”<\/p>\n
Carlos Cassiano da Silva, a community leader in the slum, said parents are grateful for the project because they know their children will work certain hours and stay out of trouble.<\/p>\n
Da Silva added that the initiative shines a positive light on Pe\u00f1a. “Many people are not used to seeing Penha in a positive light. They don’t know that there are good things about us here too,” he said.<\/p>\n
With the World Cup approaching, Goncalves said he hopes the Selecao will follow in the footsteps of his teammates and get back into the team. trophy<\/span>.<\/p>\n“We did our part and now it’s up to the Brazilian team,” Goncalves said.<\/p>\n
___<\/p>\n
Follow AP’s coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean. https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/latin-america<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n
\n
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