Winning off the Pitch: How Soccer Is Bringing Students Back to School in Guatemala
This week, Guatemala’s national soccer team faced off against the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal. While the U.S. advanced with a 2–1 win, fans saw something bigger than a result. They saw resilience. They saw heart.
In the rural village of La Magdalena, Guatemala, students are showing that same spirit—on and off the field.
Twelve children from La Magdalena recently returned to school through buildOn’s Enroll Program. For many, it was their first time in a classroom in years. And it was soccer that helped bring them back.
A New Team. A New Chapter.
The community of La Magdalena partnered with buildOn to construct a new school in 2020, replacing the old, small wooden structure that served as the community’s school before.
Once the school was completed, our Enroll Program staff began identifying students in the village who had dropped out, getting them back in school and placing them in Accelerated Learning Classes to help them catch up.
But our staff had another tool to get the students back in the classroom—soccer. Thanks to the support of generous donors, they were able to purchase uniforms for the school’s soccer teams. For the boys and girls who suited up for the first time, the impact was immediate.
“Being part of the team makes me feel part of something,” said Jonny Gilberto Chavez. “I know that going to school means playing soccer, which is cool.”
Jonny helps his father in the fields after school and plays striker on the team. His favorite part of soccer is scoring goals. His father, Gilberto, shared that this experience has made a lasting difference.
“Now I see that my son is motivated. He’s doing his best to learn. With this initiative, now he loves soccer, and that’s one of the best parts of his day.”
“Being part of the team makes me feel part of something. I know that going to school means playing soccer.” —Jonny Gilberto Chavez
Learning from Loss
At their first friendly tournament, the boys’ team from La Magdalena fell behind early in their first match 5–0. But during halftime, buildOn Impact Officer Victor Fuentes encouraged them to refocus and play together. In the second half, they came out stronger. They didn’t score, but they held their ground.
“I said to them, a loss should teach you how to win,” recalled Victor. “There is no glory without failure.”
The boys formed a circle, joined hands, and shouted “Magdalena!” together. It was a powerful moment of unity and pride.
The girls’ team faced challenges of their own. After an early own goal, one player was visibly upset. But her teammates rallied around her. They encouraged each other to keep going and nearly scored the equalizer. At the final whistle, they embraced the other team.
“They hadn’t lost,” said Victor. “They had gained new friends and a powerful learning experience.”
Soccer: A Powerful Motivator
For Maylin Joesli Alba, joining La Magdalena’s soccer team filled her with immense pride.
“I felt so happy to join the team. The teacher picked me because I made my best effort to be part of the team,” she says.
“Because I like to play, I don’t skip school. I’m learning. It is hard for me, but my mother helps me with homework. I feel happy to be back at school.”
Maylin plays defense and dreams of continuing to study so she can help her mother. Her favorite player is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“Because I like to play, I don’t skip school. I’m learning.” —Maylin Joesli Alba
Her mother, Lorena Salva Cifuentes, can see the difference.
“Before buildOn came, there was a proper school but it was very far from the community,” she explains. “Now, I can see that she likes going to school more. What she learns stays with her, and soccer motivates her a lot more.”
Lorena helped build the school and now serves on the parent organization committee. She and other parents used seed funding from buildOn as part of the Enroll Program to generate profits—money they then used to pay for school supplies. Together, the whole community is supporting their kids, on and off the soccer field.
Bigger Than a Game
As fans cheer for their favorite national teams in the Women’s Euro Cup and Men’s Gold Cup this summer, the students of La Magdalena are scoring goals of their own. A return to the classroom. A team to belong to. A future worth dreaming of.
And those are goals no keeper can block.Want to make a real impact on students in Guatemala and around the globe? Donate to support our Enroll Program today and help more students find their way back to school.