The Importance of Playing Soccer

After our third visit to Sovietsk Orphanage, it was nice to see yet again how the kids are progressing. One boy in particular is a great example of the hope for success that we have for these kids. Through a soccer program at the orphanage, he was able to prove that he has no small measure of athletic talent. Before he started playing soccer, he was considered one of the "naughty boys." While he still has some trouble now and then, he seems to have turned it around and improved his behavior as well as his performance in school. He now has a goal of attending university so that he can become a Phys. Ed. teacher when he grows up. This might not sound like staggering news to the average American, but for an orphanage kid in Russia, this is nothing short of amazing. About 4% of orphanage graduates attend university. It's not that these kids lack the talent to be able to attend university, it's simply that they lack the opportunity and the means.

We're so glad that, through past sponsorship and the funding of this soccer program by Kids First Foundation, this young man now has a goal to achieve, the motivation to get there, and the moral support if he falters. This is the kind of support that we're trying to offer to all of the kids at Sovietsk. Some of them want to be truck drivers, singers, artists, beauticians, welders, etc. Whatever they want to be, we want to give them a chance.

We are trying to fund soccer for the remainder of this year. Along the right side of the blog, where it says "Sports and Arts Change Lives" you'll see an opportunity to contribute towards this and other critical programs for our kiddos.