PLAY SOCCER, a Nonprofit Corporation

The mission of PLAY SOCCER is SPORT for DEVELOPMENT. The PLAY SOCCER grassroots community program aims to make the world a better place for children and youth who master and enjoy playing soccer/football while learning health, physical and social development life skills.

Local volunteers, primarily but not exclusively youth, are trained as Instructors for the program and provide most of the human resources that support the program. The program is designed primarily to serve disadvantaged communities with the most vulnerable children and least resources.

PLAY SOCCER begins with young children, ages 5-14, in order to provide early access to learning basic skills and to maximize lifetime benefits. The program has no religious or political affiliation. Girls are particularly encouraged to participate to promote gender equality. It is recreational and all children are welcome to participate in its non-formal educational and sport activities without competitive selection.

PLAY SOCCER also promotes cultural understanding, peace and civil society support for the United Nations Millennium Development Goals through its holistic program activities and events such as the Global Peace Games for Children and Youth.

PLAY SOCCER aims to create a global network of national civil society programs that are engaged in sustainable low cost development, support the achievement of the United Nations Millennium Development goals, and demonstrate the overall value of sport for socio-economic development.