87
Good Practice
Human Rights
Global Compact International Yearbook 2013
neighborhood of El Chorrillo, which be-
came famous after being almost wiped
out by the tragic bombings of the United
States during Operation Just Cause in
1989
before being reconstructed by
subsequent administrations after the
Manuel Noriega dictatorship. In 2007
Hector Brands presented the project to
the UNICEF Panama director at that time,
who agreed to be a sponsor for three con-
secutive years, calling it then “UNICEF
Cup.” That same year, more neighbor-
hoods were included, such as Santa Ana
and Curundu, which are still socially
vulnerable places. In 2009 the “UNICEF
Cup” had around 3,000 participants. In
2010
Medcom engaged with UNICEF
to create a bigger inter-neighborhood
league, expanding it to other provinces,
changing its name to what it is now,
NeighborhoodWorld Cup, and bringing
it to the national level, with participation
by 4,500 kids in its first season.
As Medcom became the main organ-
izer along with MNG, the project has
been featured on national television
by station RPCTV, which broadcasts
news and sports. Medcom is a multi-
media corporation composed of five
television networks (two broadcasted
nationally and three broadcasted by
cable), two radio stations as well as the
most important internet platform in
Panama: telemetro.com. The alliance of
both entities allowed for the inclusion
of new sponsors, which made possible
to transmit the games nationally. This
served as an important motivator for
the kids to stay in the league, which
has strict rules, specifically regarding
discipline and attendance.
The Neighborhood World Cup is the
only league in the country that is free
for all the participants. In 2011 there
were 5,070 boys and girls participat-
ing, from which 3,000 were granted
scholarships by the Institute for the
Education and Use of Human Resources,
a government agency.
Aligned with Medcom’s corporate social
responsibility strategy, this project ad-
heres to the principles included in the
Declaration of the Rights of the Child
regarding the areas of health, the use
of spare time, and protection – it is
all linked to the sporting activities, in-
struction of values, and the prevention
of drugs and violence. Currently, and
ever since UNICEF assumed the pro-
ject, the Neighborhood World Cup has
linked football with the teaching and
practice of values. It trains team direc-
tors and the children on topics such
as leadership, self-esteem, children’s
rights, family values, drugs and vio-
lence, communication, and teamwork.
In 2011 there were a total of 576 hours
of formal training, with 15-minute
preparatory lessons before each game.
For the last two years, the project has
had record-breaking participation all
across the country: 5,834 beneficiaries
in 2012 and 6,900 in 2013.
As in many other countries, soccer is
the most popular sport in Panama and
attracts a great number of fans. Because
of its influence on the people, Panama’s
national team and professional soccer
club players have become role models
for the children, primarily in low-income
communities. In the 16 years since the
project’s inception, some of the pro-
gram’s graduates have become players
on the national teams in the professional
leagues. This project has become the larg-
est soccer school in the country – not
only because of the teaching of soccer,
but also because of the education as a
whole, and the hope is that it will be
sustained for many more years.
The soccer school’s primary objective
has always been to prevent violence and
to provide its participants with a better
future, both personally and socially. Each
game that is broadcast also features an
individual case that takes into considera-
tion the outstanding participation of one
player. The case is chosen by evaluating
all the team players, not only their social
backgrounds and outstanding sporting
skills, but also their personal develop-
ment regarding values and economic
needs. In recognition of the efforts of
the chosen player, a sponsor is selected
and offers a financial contribution for
the player and his or her family.