Soccer School for all children, vulnerable, disabled, orphans etc is an initiative from MONUSCO Uruguayans peacekeepers . This idea came up when they started playing the game with children in the remote area of Pinga. The program started thanks to the support of Uruguayan and Spanish friends and players of La Celeste, the Uruguayan football team, and now it's searching financial support from Spanish and Uruguayan official and privates organizations. The launch of the project took place at Don Bosco college in the presence of MONUSCO head of office on 24th April 2014 at Don Bosco college .This programme already benefits to a 100 boys between 9 and 13 from Pinga and Goma communities and the peacekeepers intend to extend it to the entire province.

United Nations peacekeepers have always understood the importance of CIMIC activities to improve the life people in need and to strengthen the ties with local population . While teaching soccer to children in conflict zones like Pinga and Goma Uruguayan peacekeepers initiate them to the sense of equality and fairplay and thus bring disparate groups together.

In his speech, URUBATT IV commander, Colonel Mila says “While children learn to play the game, they also learn social skills like teamwork, fair play, and peaceful solutions. With this activity our peacekeepers have strengthened their ties with the local population. This is part of our outreach program. We believe it is important to support the population not only when disasters strike, but also to improve the life quality of local population and children are the future of a country”

Julio Alonso one Spanish journalist and supporter of this program comments: “The project aims to develop soccer schools in the service of education, respect and peaceful coexistence between Congolese children. It is a weapon with football to contribute to the efforts of the Congolese people for peace; it is the thorn of the school. Uruguayan and Spanish soccer associations bring the necessary equipment to develop the soccer school. But the main project is the construction of a football, volleyball and basketball stadium. It’s a big project that will take a year or two and whose budget rises up to 200 000 euros”.

Referring to Late Nelson Mandela, Commander Mila concluded: “Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to unite in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand. Sport can create hope where once there was only despair. It is more powerful than governments in breaking down racial barriers. It laughs in the face of all types of discrimination“.