Project History
Soccer itself has been with the Saharawi long before NFI. Like most people in the world soccer has been the primary means of entertainment, but quite differently for the Saharawi is how much deeper their love for the sport goes. Shoeless, they play on rocky ground; anything flat enough and moderately big enough will do. Houses act as boundaries for the field and a couple bricks on each end of the field as goals. The Saharawi Youth Soccer Academy simply looks to build on their love for the sport, and use it to build character and potentially add opportunity for the youth to represent their Saharawi brothers and sisters to the world.

Inspiration and Motivation
Since soccer is so engrained into the life of every boy, we saw a huge opportunity to use soccer to inspire and encourage them to perform better in school and provide them the life skills to better contribute to society. As more and more boys choose to drop out of school or even join in on delinquent activities, the need for inspiration and motivation has become more and more prevalent.

Participants
The project targets, for direct participation, those boys who choose to do well in school and treat others with respect. School performance and social aptitude will be primary in the selection of students with soccer talent being secondary. This is to create a desire in the other students to perform better in school and in relating to others.

The Goal
The goal is to inspire a desire in the youth to want to better themselves and as a result better society. To increase their soccer skills and life skills, providing them more opportunity as both athletes and contributing members of society.

Funding
As of right now the program is being funded solely by individual contributions. Grants have been pursued and will continue to be pursued, but good-will donations are vital to the success of the program.

Project Plan
The plan is to come alongside the schools, working directly with them in monitoring the students. The soccer program would work with the selected students on their soccer as well as those character traits directly connected with good team play. The soccer program will act primarily as a reward for good choices made in both their studies and in life in general (their interaction with their coaches, teachers, families, and teammates). Those students who do not follow the program guidelines and choose to disrespect teachers, coaches, etc. will be removed from the program to make way for someone who does. Those students who do well will enjoy two legitimate soccer practices a week and one competitive game a week. Students will be chosen from eight different schools and will form four different teams to create a healthy competitive environment.

Youth Players
The players will be selected from grades 3 through 5, targeting the ages just before a student may choose to drop out of school. From each grade the teachers will select their top 10 to fifteen students (based on school performance and character). From those thirty students, seven of them will be selected based on innate soccer talent. With eight different primary schools a total of 56 students will be involved. Two schools will join together to make one fourteen-man team, creating four different teams.

Coaching
One large part of the program will include coaches and referee training. In cooperation with a sports school already established in Smara, we will offer training for those Saharawi men interested in contributing to the next generation. From these men we will create a coaching staff. NFI staff and volunteers will work to support these men and fill in where needed.

What is already in place for this project?
The primary schools and sports school will act as the foundation of the project. Other than that we will be building on their love for soccer, as well as an over-whelming support from government and community leaders.

How does this project benefit the Saharawi?
The benefits that an organized soccer program will bring to the Saharawi are many. Not only will it provide a reward for the students who participate, but will inspire other students to want to do better in school. It will provide positive role-models for the youth in the Saharawi men that are selected as coaches. As the program grows, more students will be affected and more Saharawi men will have to step up and become positive role-models as well. There is also the potential for the students to travel to Europe and participate in leagues over the summer. With that possibility, many of these students will have the opportunity to be the voice of their people and bring more awareness to the world of the plight of the Saharawi.

How You Can Help
Monetary donations are an absolute necessity. If you are unable to donate financially, consider a short or long term trip. We would require that all volunteers have some soccer knowledge, but training can be provided.

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