On  August 1st, 2011 will be held  the presentation of “Soccer for Youth Development and Healthy Living” with the announcement of the alliance between the Pies Descalzos Foundation and the FC Barcelona Foundation.   The event will count with the presence of Shakira and FC Barcelona superstars Piqué, Puyol, Busquets i Affellay in the Multi-Purpose Room–Newman Alumni Center at the University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida. 

Benefit Populations

The “Soccer for Youth Development and Healthy Living” will benefit 28,441 children in the United States including Hispanic children living in the surrounding area of North Pointe YMCA Family Center located at 6881 NW 179th Street, 33015 Miami, Florida.  Of the 4,409 children living in this community under poverty conditions, the following will benefit directly from the foundation: 46% of Cuban origin, 22 % Colombians, 12 % Nicaraguans, 8 % Venezuelans and 12 % from other countries of Hispanic descent.

The joint project between FC Barcelona Foundation and the Pies Descalzos Foundation will be developed in collaboration with the YMCA of Greater Miami at the North Pointe Family Center in Miami Dade County.  It is a low-income population without any educational services of this type.  The YMCA of Greater Miami has had a center in this community for only two months and this partnership will provide the resources to rehabilitate and convert it into a sports themed area to implement a project of education and development through the use of soccer.  The fundamental values to work are:  fair play, teamwork, victory with humility, defeat with dignity and, respect for the rules of play. 

As a contribution to the objectives of this agreement, the Pies Descalzos Foundation, under Shakira’s leadership, has participated in meetings with world leaders and universal scenarios to raise awareness and stimulate policy of common causes, one of them being education in depressed and/or Hispanic communities in need.  

Shakira, during a recent visit to the Oyster Adams School in Washington, as part of the campaign to promote reading, strengthened the idea of encouraging Hispanic students to pursue their dreams adding:  “Pursue it, because you can obtain it”.  Similarly, in a meeting with then recently elected President Obama shortly after his entering the White House, Shakira reiterated her commitment to the vulnerable children in the United States by stating:  “We will work together with the President and his team to implement his vision of Latinos and children in the United States and around the world”.  

The Pies Descalzos Foundation benefits a student population in Colombia of close to 6,000 students in five schools which provides them with education, nutrition and health.  These educational institutions are considered community centers open to a population of more than 30,000 people from vulnerable sectors by offering real solutions to help improve their quality of life.  In addition, they are also given the opportunity to exercise their basic right to education which will determine their growth and development in society in the future.

The Barcelona Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose main purpose is the dissemination and promotion of proper formation, education, cultural and social aspects of the FC Barcelona Soccer Club both in Cataluña, Spain as well as worldwide.

With the intention of building solidarity through its tour in the United States, FC Barcelona will have various friendly matches commencing July 28th and culminating on August 5, 2011.