Daniela works at Programa Casa Refugiados (PCR), an NGO that focuses on the integration of asylum seekers and refugees. She thus is involved with people from all ages and is convinced that sport can help them to get to know each other and to make friends on whom they can rely on.
At PCR Daniela works closely with coaches from different sports; football, athletics, ultimate frisbee, basketball and others. Together, they prepare different activities for children from refugee or asylum seeker families. This way, the kids can enjoy various sports and simply have fun together. Through her work and through using sports, Daniela recognises how the children get more and more self-confident, which is an important change that will help them confront daily challenges.
DANIELA
Project: Mexico, May 2019 – ongoing
Parent Organization: Programa Casa Refugiados (PCR)
Born: 1993
Nationality: Mexico
“I was born and raised in Mexico City and I have lived here my entire life. I am a very optimistic person and I believe that having good friends, on whom you can rely on, is important.
When I am working with children, I want to be a role model for them, that means a person to whom they can look up to. Many kids don’t have role models in their families, in their school, or in their community. So I think as a Young Coach I can play an important role in their life. I want to help the kids to reach their goals and that they can be what they want to be.
Before this education, I have already worked with children with disabilities, which was a great experience. Showing them how to play ultimate frisbee, my preferred sport, and seeing them having fun and smiling the whole session was really fulfilling. They achieved something, they never thought they could do before. Now, during the Young Coach Education programme, we visited a school with children who cannot hear, and this was a real challenge for us in the beginning. But all of us Young Coaches realised that we could use our faces and our hands to communicate with them and in the end, they understood everything and performed all exercises quite well.
The second highlight for me was the very first festival we organised in module one. We invited both school kids as well as refugee kids and when they started to play, they totally forgot about their different backgrounds and just had fun together.
Our group of Young Coaches here in Mexico is interesting, because everybody has a different background and due to that we had a great exchange of experiences and tips. I learnt a lot of things from the Young Coach Education. What I like most are the fun and educational games. With that sort of games, we have the possibility to teach the kids important knowledge about their rights, or how they could handle their difficult situations at home. In my opinion that is a great learning tool.
I believe that every person is unique and that it is necessary to let them be themselves. That is also one message I want to teach the children I am working with in my projects. We have kids from all age groups and from different nationalities. The differences should not be a challenge or a barrier for them, instead they should see it as an enrichment for the whole society.”
Our Young Coaches are community leaders and role models in less privileged societies. They commit themselves to support the children of their communities by conveying important social topics (conflict resolution, inclusion, HIV prevention, etc.) through football. Each of the Young Coaches represents a unique personal story.