Promoting football as a mechanism for integrated social development in the Wayuu bi-national community

To consolidate an integrated program of sports training for children and young people in the Wayuu Community, CAF Executive President Enrique Garcia and Union Magdalena President José Manuel del Gordo today signed an agreement for an integrated social development program for the Wayuu school community to promote football in this bi-national community.

The signing took place in the presence of Colombian Ambassador to Venezuela María Angela Holguín, Uribia Mayor Marcelino de Jesús Gómez and the head of the communities and land administration Division of Carbones del Cerrejón, Luz Helena Sarmiento.

García said, "supporting community development initiatives that contribute to the training and integrated development of children and young people was important for strengthening the social fabric in our regions." He also emphasized the link of the private sector with Carbones del Cerrejón L.L.C, as well as the fundamental coordinating role of the Colombian Embassy in Venezuela in the development of this alliance.

The project "Football and integrated social development: contributions to the bi-national Wayuu community" is designed to fill the vacuum in access to social development, recreation and sports activities to supplement primary education in the Wayuu community.

Its objectives include football planning with technical efficiency; methods for training trainers and sportspersons giving priority to intelligence, sensitivity and creativity; and higher levels of access to health and nutrition services to achieve maximum return from sports activity.

The CAF will provide economic support for 12 months to the Union Magdalena Sports Association, which will contribute its training methodology, monitor the training, and promote the visit of professional football teams to La Guajira and send trained Wayuu to Magdalena department to join the club’s lower divisions.

Carbones del Cerrejón LLC will grant funds for the development of the integrated health and nutrition program as part of its social responsibility policy aimed at improving the quality of life of the Wayuu people.

For its part, the La Guajira government through the Uribia municipality will contribute to the execution of the technical training program in the locality of Media Luna. The Colombian Family Welfare Institute is responsible for the nutritional component and assistance to school meals services, while the National Learning Service, SENA, will participate with a full-time instructor in human talent.

The program has already been running successfully for ten years in Magdalena department in Colombia, which is the reason for the interest in extending it to the Wayuu indigenous community in both countries.