General

 

Todos director travels to Guatemala

 

My reception on arrival in Guatemala was overwhelmling: a huge blue and white colored crowd and people cheering, flags, and honking cars. It was the first time in history that the Guatemalan soccer team reached the first twenty for the World Cup. What sport can do for the atmosphere of a country! Everyone had forgotten for a moment, including me, the discord, violence and crime of every day that had only increased during the election period. After the "welcome back Juanita"surprise party, which I always get since I no longer work in Guatemala but with Todos as the director, I began the week positively with the Battle of the Year.

 

Guatemala wins!

Battle of the year, organized by the youth of the breakdance academy, Trasciende (part of the Consortium 'Sport is more') was a huge succes for the second time this year: 8000 people as public and eight participating crews form Central America and beyond. Logistically a big  job, but very well organized by the youth. This time, against all odds, Guatemala won against the Colobian contender in an exciting final battle. The 'Guatemayan Crew' will be involved in the final in Montpellier on November 19. The best moment for me, besides a good example of youth leadership, was the moment for B-boy Quetzal. There is always a minute of silence for the young people who have lost their lives due to the intese violence in the country. B-boy Quetzal was shot in his head three times and is still alive! For him, all those people on that big square in the historical center of the capital gave a one-minute applause: goose bumps!

 

Proud of our youth leaders!

After two days of training with Onno Raadsen (of 'Change the Game' in Brazil) on youth leadership, I was back to Comolapa with four of our sports leaders, who were invited to a school to work with three classes. The youth have 'discipline problems', according to the director, and trhough a three days training with sports and games, he hopes that things will improve. When asked what they learnded, a 13-year old, said: "I notice that there is much less jealousy amongst them and that we work more as a team". I was proud to see the youth leaders at work: everything was well prepared and they made up some games themselves around the 'problem'. And to think that it was only three years ago when we started the process and that they hardly dared to say their names aloud in the group!

 

The inspiration of B-boy Quetzal!

Sports and art bring a lot to all the lives of these youths, who are all from the 'marginal'areas. And it gives them so much, despite all set backs in their empty lives. B-boy Quetzal said when I visited him at home: "The doctor said I would never walk, now after one month I am on my feet again. My next goal is to haave three months to dance." The inspiration of B-boy Quetzal is now used in the Netherlands with the pilot projcet, Urban Arts & Life: a dream that comes true. Young people from Guatemala are now working on development in The Netherlands. What does this mean for the image of yong people in Guatemala? Those who were stigmatized as 'criminals' and 'gang-members' and now get to go to Europe to put their talents to work? Wow, this is what Todos works for!