Welcome to the first episode of season 2. In this episode we talk about the potential a simple game can have in connecting people and lifting up communities. AFJA is a non-profit created by Steven Levy to harness the power of play in El Salvador and Central America. Join him and board member Diana Ruano as we talk about giving back to the homeland.
Steven Levy is the son of Salvadoran immigrants and product of Los Angeles Salvi Culture. He’s the founder of AFJA, a nonprofit organization focused on developing sustainable soccer academies for youth in El Salvador and Central America. AFJA has established 4 fully funded youth soccer academies throughout Central America with the help of NIKE, the Los Angeles Galaxy soccer club and others.
Diana Ruano is a proud Salvadoreña born in New York. She’s passionate about empowering women of color and in 2019 launched an initiative called “Let’s Talk Pay,” a safe space for women to discuss achieving equal pay. Prospanica New York named Diana one of the Top Latino Leaders under 40 in Tech. She’s been involved with AFJA for a number of years and just joined the board this January.
- Being 10 in El Salvador vs the US
- Connecting through the power of play
- Salvi Experiences: LA vs NY
- Achieving gender parity through the game
- Started from a humble fundraiser
- Giving back to the hometown
- One school, one work leather ball
- One ball to four soccer academies
- The power of small ideas
- The strength of the Salvadoran diaspora
- Soccer as a vehicle for social change
- Communities that need more than just soccer
- Lack of access to water, nutrition, education
- La mission por vida – water
- Human IT – tech grant for elementary school computers
Show resources:
- AFJA Home Page
- AFJA Instagram
- AFJA Facebook
- La Mission Por Vida – Clean Drinking Water
- Human IT
Music:
Manos Arriba by Reyes Del Bajo Mundo
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