RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) 鈥� When Jo茫o Victor Gon莽alves began playing soccer in one of 鈥檚 poorest and most violent favelas, little did he know the game would one day allow him to travel abroad and play in an international competition.
Last month, along with nine other young boys, he flew to Mexico to represent Brazil in the Street Child World Cup, a tournament with teams from 30 countries composed of boys from impoverished backgrounds, organized ahead of this year鈥檚 .
鈥淚 never could have imagined that one day this would happen, that I would represent my country, doing what I most love 鈥� playing soccer 鈥� in another country,鈥� said Gon莽alves, who is 18. The Brazil team went undefeated and won the tournament, enhancing the thrill of the experience.
Like many Brazilians, Gon莽alves and his teammates grew up kicking a ball around and closely following members of the Sele莽茫o, Brazil鈥檚 national soccer team. They dream of one day players like their heroes.
The project has already changed their lives, they say.
Beyond being the gateway to climatic moments, the Street Child United Brazil project in the Penha complex of favelas allows participants to at least momentarily escape from everyday life marked by deprivation and violence, fostering a sense of safety, belonging and hope.
The initiative began in 2014, when Brazil hosted the FIFA World Cup. Today, some 100 youths take part in the year-round training sessions that take place four days a week. The project welcomes girls and boys aged 6 and above.
Playing soccer represents 鈥渓ove, passion, the realization of dreams,鈥� said Ryan Mercedes, a 17-year-old who also went to Mexico. 鈥淲hen we enter the field, it鈥檚 time for us to have fun and be happy.鈥�
But soccer enthusiast Rafael Gomes says that the reality of life in the favela has sometimes caught up with them. The soccer fans have had to at least once interrupt a game due to a police operation in the favela.
鈥淲e were training when all of a sudden there were shots, we had to run and stay in the corners,鈥� said Gomes.
Last year, more than 120 people died in Penha and the neighboring Alemao complex of favelas targeting members of the criminal group Red Command.
The drug-trafficking group 鈥� which the Trump administration as a foreign terrorist organization 鈥� controls parts of the favela. It represents a temptation for minors who might be drawn to crime as a quick way of making cash.
Drica Santos, a coordinator for the project, says that the organization aims to offer an alternative to that way of life.
鈥淚f the project didn鈥檛 exist, we would have lost a lot of lives,鈥� said Santos. 鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to save everyone, but the greatest number of children that we manage to save 鈥� that don鈥檛 get involved in drug-trafficking 鈥� that will already be our victory.鈥�
Carlos Cassiano da Silva, a community leader in the favela, says that parents are grateful for the project because they know that their children will be occupied for a certain amount of time and stay out of trouble.
The initiative also casts Penha in a good light, da Silva added. 鈥淢any people aren鈥檛 used to seeing Penha in a positive manner, they don鈥檛 know of the good things we have here too,鈥� he said.
As the World Cup approaches, Gon莽alves said he hoped that the Sele莽茫o would follow in his teammates’ footsteps and bring back .
鈥淲e did our part. Now it鈥檚 up to the Brazilian national team,鈥� Gon莽alves said.
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