Ajax, Sandals Resorts International and its foundation collaborate to facilitate youth football in the Caribbean

By Shanieka Smith

Features Writer

May 27, 2022 – Primary schools across the Dutch Caribbean island, specifically in Curaçao, are set to receive new football equipment as well as a sports program professionally designed by Ajax coaches. AFC Ajax, founded on March 18, 1900, is one of the largest and most storied clubs in European football.

The initiative will happen through the new Future Goals program which Ajax and Sandals Resorts International (SRI), in association with the Sandals Foundation, have launched. An article from the Ajax for the future stated that the program “is an island-wide program that creatively turns fishing nets sourced from the ocean and plastic waste into colourful football goals.”

The Sports program will run for eight-week and will zoom in on “the power of football as a vehicle to equip children with life skills, while growing their awareness of the importance of taking care of their communities, precious islands and their natural resources.” The curriculum will be an island-wide football tournament; all participating schools will be competing.

This is in alignment with the goal of Future Goals, which is to “encourage children in Curaçao to play and enjoy football with sustainably produced resources.” As time goes by, the program will be enhanced considering the needs of each island. Its ultimate goal, however, is for the program to spread throughout the Caribbean.

While the initiative is to inspire youths through football, it shows commitment to residents in Curaçao and the workforce. The manufacturer of the goals made from fishing nets and plastic waste from the ocean is a Curaçao based plastic recycling company called Limpi.

The local youths that are trained by Ajax coaches are also recruited from the island by Favela Street, “a foundation that aims to turn youngsters into role models through the game of football and a special education curriculum.”