A conversation on the top of a holiday cottage over looking a lake in Finland in the summer of 2007 might seem an unlikely place to dream up a football coaching project for the tiny central American country of El Salvador, but that’s exactly what happened when Fr Peter O’Neill (known as ‘Padre Pedro’) visited the country to officiate at the wedding of his nephew’s wedding to his Finnish bride. Padre Pedro inquired whether Peter intended to visit El Salvador again (having previously visited in 2002 and 2004). Peter instinctively said yes but expressed a desire to ‘give something back’ to the wonderful people and communities he had met previously. It was then that the two hit on the idea of football coaching camps for the young people. The goals of the project were to provide the young people of the Parish with an alternative and positive focus away from gang life with the added benefit of being healthy and fun.

Some 19 months later in the Easter Holidays of 2009, Peter and his long time friend,Graham Millie (both qualified football coaches), travelled the 5000 miles across the Atlantic to the Padre’s parish in Soyopango. And so began what has become an important and exciting on going project for the young people in the Padre’s parish. The intention was to give the young people an alternative focus away from gang life which is so prevalent in the city.

The camps take place in three neighbourhoods – El Pepeto, Montes 3 and San Jose 3.

Each camp is co-organised by the parishioners and members of the local community.

Each community camp consists of 

• 3 days coaching for boys and girls aged 5 to 18
• Avoca (through your support) supplies balls, cones, bibs, t-shirts for all those attending together with prizes, gifts and attendance diplomas
• Training young adults to become football coaches in their community