Havana – “When the Apostolic Nuncio stationed here in Havana first told me about Inter Campus, I didn’t fully understand what he was referring to when he spoke about the strong link between education and sport, football and soccer. I certainly knew that sports and recreational activities could be important for helping children who live in difficult circumstances, but I didn’t believe that the educational scope of the project was so crucial for their lives and development.” With these words, Sister Honoria, the organizing partner of the Cuban project, began the story of her meeting with Inter Campus and with the children from the barrio where the activities take place today.

And she continued, without pausing for breath, almost emotional: “Since we started in the Jaimanitas barrio, one of the poorest areas of Havana, where many families live in problematic situations, with few resources and poor job prospects, the requests from children to participate in Inter Campus activities have been numerous, attracted by the particular educational methodology and the opportunity to participate in activities without the pressure of competition, which is typical in our country. I believe it is important to have several girls join because in the neighborhood there are problems with underage prostitution and gender integration; this allows for better interaction with boys and, above all, the possibility of dialoguing with families, alerting them to risky behaviors; succeeding in involving parents was another success because usually in the educational activities we carry out, fathers and mothers are absent. And every month we organize a meeting so that the children are constantly monitored in their activities and to ensure that the most solid possible emotional core is created around them.”

Sister Honoria has a word for everyone, no one excluded, and her attention is directed to all those people who animate the black and blue social project. “Jesus and Rubio, our coaches and school teachers at the same time, are a true point of reference for the children. Unfortunately, for some months now, due to this pandemic, we have had to stop the activities and the negative impact on the children is evident, as they are experiencing a particular social and emotional isolation, also due to the absence of technological resources. Precisely for this reason, Inter Campus, when activities resume, will represent something even more important for all of them; hoping that this time comes soon.”