Ernesto and Geovany - Difficulty and Change.

This story was written by Coach Andy of the SOI El Salvador team.

I want to talk about two boys, Ernesto and Geovany López, twin brothers who are part of our Hope Restored program. This program began in 2014 in the community of La Esperanza. SOI desired to create spaces for healthy recreation and spiritual care for children there. It is in this place where Ernesto and Geovany came to take part in soccer training when they were 6 years old. They have been a part of Hope Restored ever since!

When they arrived, they were misbehaved children. They did not heed instructions and they liked to tease and fight with others. Unfortunately, where they live and their core family are people who do not have many social values, and their many problems severely affected the twins. Over the years, and with a lot of work from SOI volunteers and teachers, they have really changed their way of thinking and acting. Now, they behave better, are less spoiled and seek less conflict with the other children. They started in the English classes Humberto leads in their school.

On the sports field, they are both most outstanding in soccer. In 2019 they were chosen to participate in the Claro league (a tournament run by a telephone company.) We were so proud that they were also chosen by a newspaper to give their brief experience about the soccer tournament. They are also part of the SOI-SNOWBALL program that takes place in the “BeSport” sports center facilities, and of the reinforcement classes taught by the ESEN university volunteers that work along with SOI.

Ernesto and Geovany are also part of the SOI’s EmpowerME program, and every month they both receive a food pack each which benefits their entire family. We can say that their lives have changed for the better! With the help of God, many children in our town of Nuevo Cuscatlán are changing the course of their lives.

As one of the Sports Outreach slogans says, “Restoring hope and transforming lives” is our goal through all we do!