America SCORES in Las Minas, El Salvador

Three members of the America SCORES Bay Area staff and one coach recently went to El Salvador for a six-day program that brought soccer and poetry to local youth. The children came from a small town called Las Minas, two hours away from the capital. A typical family from Las Minas survives on $60 a month to support five people, farming most of what they need rather than buying it. Young children take part in daily activities to support their families, taking care of animals and helping with meals. Children from Las Minas go to school from first through ninth grade but typically do not continue on to high school or university. The students who participated in the America SCORES summer program in Las Minas were chosen by teachers and administrators as a reward for good work during the school year.

The America SCORES program in Las Minas focused on allowing children to share their own experiences and stories. The language barrier served as a challenged for the America SCORES team members, forcing them to spend less time talking and more time asking the students themselves to share. Older students learned about human rights and conflict resolution to address the lasting effects of war and guerilla activity in the area. Younger students participated in picture book read-alouds and shared their own stories through art and writing enrichment activities.

We look forward to pupusa lunches, soccer, and more stories from Las Minas next year!