Roxanne and Aloise

Since they were little girls, Roxanne and Aloise of Ambassador Troop 1667 have had a love for soccer. Their love of the sport and desire to share it with others led them to organize and direct their Gold Award project, Empowering Women Through Soccer, through which they founded a new girls’ soccer league in Solola, Guatemala.

Some of the girls sponsored by the Empowering Women Through Soccer project

The girls worked with the non-profit organization, Soccer Without Borders (SWB), which provides women and girls in developing nations with an opportunity to play soccer where they would normally not have the chance. Roxanne and Aloise provided enough equipment for 60 women and girls so that SWB could set up a league for the players.

By selling old textbooks and various other items on ebay, they raised enough funds to buy 60 jerseys, 60 pairs shorts, 60 pairs of socks, goalie equipment, and ball bags from Eurosport for the women in Solola. In order to afford the 21 soccer balls they provided, they worked with Dick’s Sporting Goods, who  gave them $100 worth of store credit, to help them find the best deals for soccer balls. They also appealed Girl Scout troops to sponsor and sign the soccer balls so the girls in Guatemala could see the signatures. Total, the girls raised more than $1,400 for the project.

Roxanne and Aloise said they hoped the new league would provide the girls in Guatemala the opportunity learn to work together, get exercise, and learn many life values, such as self-confidence, leadership, determination, friendship, and trust.

Check out the video from Roxanne and Aloise who share more about the project and their experience:

Great work, girls!