began with the vision of creating a fun and meaningful way for high school kids to have a positive impact on their local community, while seeking an opportunity to utilize their soccer skills and practice their Spanish. With the help of teachers in the community, very generous donations of cleats, balls, and other equipment, and with a lot of hard work, Golazo was born! Spanish for "a great goal"
, Golazo! is a two week soccer camp held in a low income Latino community in Franklin that reached 40+ kids in the summer of 2016, and 50+ kids in 2017! In addition to providing a very fun camp experience, Golazo! supplies campers with soccer cleats, socks, shin guards, t-shirts, water, and snacks. In return, the campers have welcomed us into their community and have been incredibly patient in helping us with our Spanish! provides an important daily structure to the summer for these kids, who otherwise do not have the means to attend a soccer camp, and whose parents are typically away at work all day. The two week experience allows authentic relationships to be formed and permits greater understanding as to the challenges that face this community. Preparations for Golazo 2018 are underway! In addition to 2 weeks of soccer, we also have a 1 week art camp in July. We welcome donations of any size! Donations will help fund the following: t-shirts, snacks, water, equipment, and liability insurance. The cost of running the two week camp is $3000. One of the best things about Golazo! is the ability of soccer to break down cultural barriers and form authentic connections. Although coming from very different backgrounds, the counselors and campers quickly become friends, team mates and mutual teachers and learners. The kids and counselors organically come together through their love of soccer, and that perhaps is the greatest gift to all of us.
