Gerardo - a Gifted Young Man Gets a Wonderful Opportunity

On the field… off the field… because of Sports Outreach, Gerardo is receiving a top-notch high school education. 

 Gerardo is a 14 year old boy whose parents are separated, and he lives with his mother in a humble house in Nuevo Cuscatlán, El Salvador. She sells snacks and drinks at a high school to provide for Gerardo and his three older sisters. As a participant in SOI’s EmpowerMe program, he and his family receive food and Bible training each month.

 Gerardo became involved with Sports Outreach’s soccer academy program last year. SOI staff discipled him and have learned that he is a very good student. As a result, he was selected to receive a scholarship to study at Citalá, a private school. The scholarship exists because of the hard work of SOI’s Humberto Alferez. In 2018, he negotiated three such scholarships each year for poor children.

 Gerardo’s mom has to co-pay a small amount each month, so she has “skin in the game” with his education.  He is very happy in his new school and doing great work. He continues to play soccer with the SOI academy on Saturday afternoons after school is done.

 It starts with a ball and ends (so far) with a young man getting a strong education that will help lift he and his family out of poverty!