Youth Speak Collective - Futbolito Pacoima
The international sport of Futbolito, which combines the skills and tactics of soccer with a heavier ball and smaller goal, will continue to grow in the at-risk community of Pacoima as the result of a new funding commitment from Westcoast Sports Associates (WSA).
WSA partnered with The Youth Speak Collective (YSC), a unique "youth-driven" organization where youth from each community act as planners to establish new and sometimes different sports programs. YSC typically targets youth who have been raised in single-parent homes, gang-infested neighborhoods, and overcrowded schools. YSC created the Futbolito Pacoima league in 2006, and has continued to add new teams each year.
Based on this success, YSC asked WSA to help expand the program to the Fernando Middle School in Pacoima for 2010-11. WSA has provided initial funding for coaches salaries and equipment, which will allow 35 at-risk youth to participate in the league for an entire calendar year. WSA's funding will also allow these children to participate in tournaments with other Futbolito leagues on a bi-weekly basis.
Pacoima, located in the Northeast San Fernando Valley, has a large youth population and a long history of gang violence. WSA and YSC share a common goal for Futbolito Pacoima: to develop an athletic community where children living in poverty and participating in competitive team sports acquire positive character values, skills and knowledge of sports and citizenship. WSA is proud to partner with Youth Speak Collective to bring hope to these children of the Northeast San Fernando Valley.