From the School Yard to the Soccer Field
When 12-year-old Michael steps onto the soccer field at Lindbergh Station, he's not just playing a game, he's living a dream that started three years ago when his mother Margarita, and father, discovered Soccer in the Streets.
"For him, I don't even have to force him. It's something natural for him," Margarita says with pride. "He loves soccer."
Before joining Soccer in the Streets in 2022, Michael had only played casually at school. This would be his first real team. What he found was a community that would transform both him and his sister..
"Something that I enjoy a lot is having fun with my friends and learning new skills," Michael explains.
For the siblings, afternoons at Lindbergh Station became a refuge where school stress melted away. "Now, happier thanks to you, they get out a bit more in the afternoons," Margarita shares. "They relieve the stress from school."
What struck Margarita most was the program's inclusivity. "What I like about here is that all the children are taken into account, both in games and practices. No matter their level, all the children participate."
Through the program's character development focus, Michael gained something invaluable: confidence.
"Something that's important to me is having confidence in my goals and values," Michael says. That confidence has changed how he approaches challenges off the field too, "not being nervous to ask for help and to learn something new."
When asked about his future, Michael doesn't hesitate: "When I grow up, I want to be a pro soccer player." His hero is Cristiano Ronaldo, and he dreams of playing for Real Madrid.
For Margarita, Soccer in the Streets has meant finding a community she trusts. "We feel happy with Soccer in the Streets, truly. A lot of trust, especially on you (Coach Francisco Stenger), the coaches," she says warmly. "Thank you most of all, because you are wonderful people doing something good for the community."
Soccer in the Streets serves over 5,000 youth annually across metro Atlanta through free, accessible programming. To learn more or support families like Michael's, visit soccerstreets.org.
