Our third & final day of Paraguay-based programming featured a double shot of sessions once again alongside the @fundacion.alda team. Held on a spacious pitch just steps away from Escuela Básica Divino Niño Jesús, 43 participants were led through our battle-tested curriculum across two very unique classes. Not only cheered on by classmates and peers, the greater community was out in full force to support a new generation of footballing talent. Teammates yelled, siblings applauded, and even parents got in on the action - helping shepherd participants through our various drills. And by the end of the day, legs weary from exercise and stomachs full from the Alda-provided cookies & juice boxes, kids departed down familiar dirt roads - this time with new accessories in hand. A ball resting on the handlebars of their bicycles. And a drawstring bag resting over their backs.
Heaves. A bit of sunshine and obviously it’s time to try to move through milk bottle white to salmon pink. #aroundtheworlds 3x20@20kg been for physio on my painful left shoulder this morning so trying to get some mobility in it and get some blood in there before pressing. #dumbbellbenchpress 5x10@30kg dbs. #inclinedumbbellbenchpress 3x10@25kg dbs. #slamballthrow 3x10@20kg #skullcrushers 3.8x10@15kg dbs - failed on the 4th set - fortunately didn’t wear the dumbbells, good to fail now and again. #strengthtraining #dumbbelltraining #outdoorgym #submarinerstrong
Our second day of Paraguay-based programming took us to the suburb of San Lorenzo for an all-morning event brought to life by @fundacion.alda, @unicefparaguay, @educationaboveall_eaa, and @global_infancia. The collaboration was not only a special one, but a much needed intervention - for members of the community could gather in the center of town to receive basic healthcare, veterinary care, school registration information, and more, all at a cost-free basis. And while their parents were off tending to important needs, an impressive volunteer presence from Fundacion Alda was on hand to provide young beneficiaries with a morning chock-full of activities and games. Transferring from station to station, kids were transported to a different world - one where they could experience the beauty of art (painting & drawing), the joy of music, and the wonder of cuentacuentos (storytelling) all at once. Thanks to the Alda team, we were able to integrate an abridged version of our football curriculum, so that in addition to brand new @challengerhq tees, the kids left the day both with healthy minds and healthier bodies.
In mid-April, we opened up a long-awaited programming run in our 58th country - Paraguay. Collaborating on the day with the incredibly impactful @fundacion.alda, we headed due north of Asunción towards Limpio, where a group of 26 students from Escuela Hector Roque Duarte were waiting. Through the years, Fundacion Alda has demonstrated a concentrated commitment towards improving quality of life and access to education for boys and girls from communities located all over Paraguay. Having recently celebrated their 20th anniversary in operation, that commitment remains just as strong and resolute despite challenging speedbumps felt worldwide (like the COVID-19 pandemic), many of which were exacerbated in the rural regions of the South American nation. Like us, Alda understands that every single child, regardless of age, socioeconomic status, race, or creed - has a dream. A dream that needs to be protected. A dream that deserves to be chased. And what exactly are those dreams, you might ask? “I want to learn how to read.” “I dream that one day we might cure cancer.” “I would like to build a school that anyone can attend, so that everyone can become something in life.” “I hope there is never a lack of bread on the table.” “I want to make my mother happy.”
Heaves. #aroundtheworlds 5x10@20kg. Then some pressing, #benchpress 3x3@120kg and then #inclinebenchpress 3x10@60kg. I like using the steel plates - they make a satisfying sound. Finished with the slam ball, 3x10@12kg #submarinerstrong #strengthtraining #barbelltraining #garagegym
You have the power and strength to make this week what you want, it’s a good week to have a good week ✨
We’ve been running programs in the Philippines all the way back since early 2016. These sessions have taken us all over the country - from Baguio to Benguet, from Zambales to Manila. Beneficiaries have ranged from schools in the lowlands, to orphanages in the mountains, to even Nobel Peace Prize nominated foundations - all working day in and day out to provide a better tomorrow for the tiny Southeast Asian nation’s next generation. If there’s something we’ve noticed in our now sixth edition of Philippines-based programming, it’s that no matter where the kids come from... no matter what they come from, there is a desire to learn and a need to play so deeply ingrained in the fabric of their DNA. Elite athletes know that it’s just as easy for other important values to get lost within the lines of competition. But, from year one to year eight and beyond, we’ve never found this to be the case. Especially here in the Philippines. After our second session with Friendship Home in Metro Manila, beneficiaries approached Stephen with their brand new @hummelusa jerseys from @valescsoccer carefully folded, resting gently in their hands. “Here, Coach,” they said, ready to return them in the same condition they had received them just an hour prior. “No, those are yours to keep,” Stephen answered, the kids’ faces lighting up in response, as they collectively pulled the jerseys back on over their tiny frames.
📍Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum 🇵🇱 1940年5月20日ドイツ人が設置した 最大規模の強制収容所が開所された日です。 これは宗教的な問題も絡んでいるため 宗教というのがどれほど影響力があるのか、 宗教にあまり関心の無い日本には 馴染みがないと思うだろう。 戦争と言うのは、良いことがない。 それだけは確信した。 次行くなら絶対日本語ツアーで参加したい。 貴重な歴史体験を準備すべき場所だ。 入場料は無料🎟️ ガイドを付けるのが主流🚩 ガイドは有料🈶 #ポーランド #クラクフ #アウシュヴィッツ #戦争 #負の遺産 #ユダヤ #世界一周中 #バックパッカー #世界一周 #海外 #海外旅行 #歴史 #ヨーロッパ #poland #krakow #auschwitzbirkenau #ww2 #europa #traveltheworld #touring #piece #✌️ #aroundtheworlds #around
Protector. #nil #nilpferdliebe #protector #ofmothersandchildren #fastdrawing #godhood #sand #dune #aroundtheworlds #mythologieegyptienne #trust #guardien #everdaylearning #drawings #sketch #dailysketch #takealook #myartwork #illustrator #illustrationoftheday #moregoodness #blackandwhite #moreandmore #smilemore #laughoutloud #befinewithlove
In 2018, we laced the boots up for a special Manila-based program - our first ever all-girls session, held in conjunction with Bahay Maria. Following a long, pandemic-induced hiatus, the year 2023 marked a return to both Bahay Maria and the girls who called it home. After almost five years, the kids had grown and so had their dreams. They were turning into such bright, young women, unafraid of the world and unashamed of the goals they had within it. After the session, the girls had left each clutching a new ball in their hands. Sure, to many, it was just a ball. But for others, that ball represented a world - one filled with opportunity and one teeming with possibility. Just last month, we were able to return to Bahay Maria for a repeat session. An extra year’s worth of life experience in the bag, the girls were tasked with an important prompt in the moments leading up to the class. Call it an exchange of wisdom, if you will. “Write on these cards who you are... and who you want to be.” As always, we would be sharing these cards with fellow dreamers in another country. The responses that followed were all amazing in their own right, but none more so than one written by a 16 year old girl named Angel, an aspiring chemical engineer. “All I want to say to you is to always be strong. Be brave and let courage lead your way. Always remember that you are never alone.” Now, a case could be made that Angel misunderstood the assignment. That she had failed to write down who she was. But that narrow way of thinking is outdated. Because somehow, in her words though ever-so-brief, she had managed to not necessarily write, but show exactly who she was.
During our latest run of Manila-based sessions, we hit an incredibly special milestone in Around the Worlds’ (relatively) short history - our 300th program. The class, held coincidentally just days after International Women’s Day, brought together an amazing group of young girls to experience the game of soccer and all the joy that comes with it. Through choruses of giggles and a never-ending reel of flashing smiles, the girls played in the company of one another. They learned. They tried. They cheered. After just an hour’s time, friends became teammates and teammates quickly became family. It really wasn’t as much a celebration of the game as it was a celebration of life. Luckily, we’ve now been able to experience that celebration of humanity 300 times over. Thanks to the resolute community built around our organization, you guys continue to show up for us so we can, in turn, show up for them. Their dreams oftentimes rest on our shoulders and ours just as much rest on yours. So thank you, for 300 programs. 300 moments of joy, no matter how fleeting or long-lasting that joy might be. From us and them, the dreamers alike, we appreciate you!
Earlier this month, we marked a return to Asia-based programming with an afternoon session alongside beneficiaries from Friendship Home - a Metro Manila safe haven where over 90 children receive food, shelter, education, and most importantly, friendship, on a daily basis. Dressed to the nines in new @hummelusa jerseys thanks to @valescsoccer, the kids took to the court and gave it their absolute all through various drills designed to test them both physically and mentally. For many, it was an introduction to the game of soccer. But for us, we could only hope it might spark a further interest in a sport steadily rising in popularity within the tiny Southeast Asian island nation. How long that spark would last was entirely up to the kids, but according to our contact at Friendship Home, Brother Listher, the interest in sport was certainly alive and well. “I’ve been excited for the football program all week! The kids, too,” he said. Over the years, the kids had been exposed to high-level training sessions for volleyball, basketball, and even dance. “But we were especially excited for this one because it’s our first time ever giving the kids an opportunity to participate in a football class,” Brother Listher added, with an ever-so-big smile on his face.
For almost nine years now, we’ve had the privilege of using this extremely simple, yet incredibly powerful platform of sport to make a difference in the lives of youth all over the world. Time and time again, we are reminded of the power it holds - in its ability to provide, to teach, to transcend boundaries, and most of all, to bridge worlds. Never has this been clearer than in our sports-themed arts & crafts programs. Designed to stimulate the mind and to nurture a (necessary) freedom of expression, these classes allow our beneficiaries to wind down from the excitement and rigor of our football sessions and in doing so, express a sense of creativity on canvas that they had perhaps just displayed on the field only moments before. Oftentimes, that creativity is expressed through the construction of cards... cards meant to be distributed to children experiencing similar hardship throughout the world. These cards hold their dreams, their goals, their fears, and their triumphs. And like this recent class in Casablanca, the language of the giver (Spanish - Colombia) might not always match that of the receiver (Arabic - Morocco), but the sentiment still remains - that through art & sport, the world is made to be a little less scary and just a tiny bit smaller.
Heaves. #deadlifts 3x2@160kg. I need to deadlift more consistently. #singlearmdumbbellrow 3x15@30kg, I probably need a heavier dumbbell or I could, y’know go to a gym… but that might be weird. And then tried #aroundtheworlds on one leg, just using a 10kg plate. My colleague @kerryburke12 suggested I do this ‘because they really help improve balance’ but I suspect that it was just to amuse her when I posted a video. Or she’s trying to do me in. Hmmm. #garagegym #barbelltraining #dumbbelltraining #submarinerstrong #rnpa
For our fourth & fifth sessions in a marathon week of Delhi-based programming, we headed west towards Najafgarh for an afternoon collaboration with the beneficiaries of Maika “Sweet Home” Anathalaya. Maika - the brainchild of prominent Delhi businessman, Avinash Jain, operates as a shelter for girls & women in need, often extending support to their dependents as well. With 60 beneficiaries currently living on-campus and Mr. Jain at the helm, @maika_sweethome is working daily to provide these girls with the possibility of a better future. A future where they can pursue passions. A future where they can engage in sport. A future where they can attend school and college, furthering their knowledge without the burden of tuition costs. A future where they can learn about computers or take English classes, all at a cost-free basis. A future where they can attend vocational trainings in the fields of cooking, stitching, cleaning, housekeeping, and more. It’s no surprise that this place has affectionately adopted the “Sweet Home” moniker. Because for 60 girls now, and hundreds more before, that’s exactly what it is. A place built with love, and a place sustained by it. A place where girls can be athletes, students, dreamers, and doers. A home as sweet as any.
📍Danakil Salt Lake 🇪🇹 ダナキルツアー内容に入っていたダナキル塩湖🔖 もはやウユニ塩湖！ 時期的にたまたま水と塩湖が一緒になったのは この時期だけだと思う！2・3月がおすすめかも☝️ 初日は、移動で全てが終わって美味しいご飯と Million Star Hotel 💫 という名の 木でできたベットで野外野宿🫠 けど案外寝れるもんだな笑 #ダナキルツアー #ダナキル #エチオピア #ダナキル塩湖#野外 #野宿 #世界一過酷なツアー #バックパッカー #バックパッカー旅 #世界一周中の人と繋がりたい #世界一周中 #旅行 #travelphotography #enjoy #aroundtheworlds #bagpack #photography #danakil #saltlakecity #millionstarhotel #millionaire #ethiopia #danakiltour #tour#海外 #海外旅行 #海外ガール
Our second program in an afternoon collaboration with Don Bosco Ashalayam saw us connected with their “sinior” football team. The training session, though intimate in number, featured a technically-gifted group of high school athletes, which allowed Stephen to explore some of the more advanced elements of our curriculum. Understandably, there was a period of adjustment necessary for every exercise, but after only a matter of moments our beneficiaries had reached a complete flow-state. Touching on movement, spacing, passing, and other important techniques - the boys dialed in and were able to fully display their heightened skill level. And just as with Don Bosco’s “juniar” side, we were able to reward them for their hard work & effort with brand new @hummelusa jerseys thanks to @valescsoccer. “These will be perfect for the organized games the boys play each weekend,” said Don Bosco Ashalayam staffer, Father Akshay, receiving an extra pile of jerseys with a smile... even donning one himself.
Inscribed just outside the walls of Delhi’s Akshardham Temple reads a simple, but significant phrase. “Where Art is ageless, Culture is borderless, Values are timeless.” The words preface the wonder and beauty of a sight preserved in time, but those words hardly only apply to what lies ahead. For is that not the same beauty of sport? Of the beautiful game, specifically? Think, a game that does not discriminate on the basis of age, culture, creed, gender, language, or socioeconomic status. A place where all these groups can come together, not only to enjoy each other, but beyond that... to celebrate each other. And never was this celebration more evident than during our first India-based session alongside Don Bosco Ashalayam’s “juniar” football team. These kids, from a litany of different backgrounds and stories, were brought together through a shared love for sport. And weekly, coaches and mentors were tasked with the important role of helping nurture this passion. Thanks to their hard work and dedication, guest trainers (like Stephen) could then drop by to impart their own knowledge and coaching styles on eager, ever-impressionable young minds. Then, playing our ever-so-small role in nurturing this innate passion for play, we could go beyond instruction to outfit these new beneficiaries with high-quality footballs and brand new @hummelusa jerseys, courtesy of @valescsoccer. All in pursuit of a better, more beautiful future... all through the power of sport.
Our 2023 programming (seemingly) took us to every corner of the world as we successfully held sessions in 13 countries spread across five different continents. From drills delivered in Tagalog in the Philippines, to scrimmages refereed in Spanish in Guatemala, Argentina, Spain, and Colombia. Exercises explained in French in the Ivory Coast and Morocco, to English instructions mixed with a little bit of Twi in Ghana. A Portuguese curriculum at a class just outside of Lisbon, followed by Arabic commands during a run of programs in Egypt and Lebanon. Through it all, the global nature and universality of the game was on full display. Language was neither a barrier for entry or understanding, nor a barrier for enjoyment. Rather, it represented a certain commonality in the human experience - the ability to bring together individuals from different backgrounds to enjoy a common, shared interest. Luckily, an impromptu session in Tunisia would prove to be just the same. A ragtag group of participants. A makeshift dirt court with improvised goals at each end. And a grab bag of words spoken in English, French, and Arabic. But still, the kids played with joy in their hearts and determination on their faces. They respected each other, but above all, they respected the game. And in no instance was this clearer than in the moments just before our scrimmage began. “Stephen? Can we have a moment of silence before starting the game?”
For our third (and final) day of Morocco-based programming, we made our way over to Ibno Hanbal School for a double-shot of Monday sessions. The day’s beneficiaries would be coming from @idmaj_foundation’s “Second Chance” program, aptly-named for its reintegration of grade school & high school dropouts back into the traditional education landscape. These kids were all coming from a wide range of circumstances, some far more extreme than others. Despite that, though, they had expressed a desire to return to school and thanks to IDMAJ, they could now transition back into the learning environment - enrolling in English classes, life skills seminars, math courses, and more. Monday, however, was to be a special day at school because the subject of the day was, of course, sport. So, for two whole hours, our “Second Chance” students got to work - running through ball control grids, competing both in individual & group settings, and most importantly, trying their luck at head it, catch it (ra’s or yed) for their share of the day’s prize pool... a pile of professional-grade soccer balls. The energy was electric and our small audience couldn’t help but smile watching winner after winner be hugged and lifted airborne by their teammates. Because, yes, the winners were smiling. That’s to be expected. But their teammates, though not victorious, were smiling as well. Coaches and administrators, too. It was playful and perfect, as play should be. For some days, competition trumps joy - but luckily, this day was not one of those.
Breaking in my Christmas gift. If you have access to a Bulgarian bag, give this circuit a shot. Whew doggies. #bulgarianbag #treadmillworkout #suplesspins #aroundtheworlds #walkinglunges #boxstepups #sidestepsquats #mommastrong #hiit #explosivetraining
We’ve been in this game long enough to know that our work does not (and would not) exist without the tireless support and ever-willing trust of others. Other businesses who’ve shipped out hundreds of soccer balls just so we might give a child that unforgettable feeling of holding his or her very own, first ball. Other sports organizations who’ve stacked ‘for donation only’ boxes from floor to ceiling chock-full of jerseys and tee-shirts so we can outfit our beneficiaries at the conclusion of sessions, sometimes in the first article of clothing they’ve ever owned that was not pre-owned or unoriginal. Other grantors who’ve given us the underrated blessing of unrestricted funds, and in doing so, said “we see what you’re doing, we believe in what you’re doing, so just keep doing what you’re doing.” And last, but not least, the other youth-based foundations... the ones who for some reason, took a chance on us and allowed us to deliver a curriculum to the kids they care so deeply for. The ones fighting every single day to make this world just a tiny bit better for a new, younger generation of dreamers. And the ones who are so incredibly good at what they do, that we have no choice but to meet them where they are in everything that we do and everything that we are.
Reminder, these videos not real because why I look like a busted can of biscuits x why is my left shoulder beyond w e a k 🫣 ✅ shoulders ✅bloated 🐷 byeeeee 😂
For our second Morocco-based program in just as many days, we linked back up with the @idmaj_foundation team for a morning session alongside their BMCC Football Academy. For years now, the academy has operated as a well-oiled machine, eliminating the traditional barriers for entry that for too long have kept children within the Sidi Moumen community from enjoying the sport they love. BMCC’s coaching lead, Coach Almohtarame, beamed with pride as he shared the academy’s low cost structure - with most athletes paying a mere 50 dirhams (~$5) monthly, while some are able to participate for free due to scholarship funds. But, the truth is... if the academy was a car and the athletes its passengers, the coaching staff is the engine that makes it run. And run effectively, at that. Throughout his tenure, Coach Almohtarame has seen many faces, including those of his two current assistants - Coach Yasyn and Coach Youssef. His favorite stories, however, are of those who made the jump from “mentored” to “mentor.” Pointing up at a large vinyl poster climbing high over the court, the corners of his mouth curled up into a smile once more. His finger had directed itself towards a baby-faced child with short, curly hair. “See? That’s Yasyn many years ago... he was one of mine, too,” Coach Almohtarame said, speaking of his players as if they were his own sons. Because honestly, as a coach, at times they surely might as well have been.
Earlier this month, we opened up a multi-week run of programming in North Africa with a collaboration alongside the Morocco-based @idmaj_foundation. For 17 years, IDMAJ has served as a place of refuge for the youth of Sidi Moumen - protecting them from violence, victimization, delinquency, drug abuse and extremism. Impacting over 1,500 young people each year, the foundation’s four community centers allow children the opportunity to participate in cultural, educational, athletic, and developmental projects to complement their traditional public schooling. So, on a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon, we linked up with IDMAJ’s Ain Sebaa Center to carry out a guest-led training session for their beneficiaries, as well as local youth from the surrounding community. And for the better part of two hours, over 30 young athletes played and competed to their hearts’ content. Even when brand new soccer balls, @wearebettereveryday drawstring bags, and @oakwood_soccer_club jerseys were revealed as prizes, play continued with a sense of respect and camaraderie that could only be rooted in IDMAJ’s mission statement. “Believe in what you do, lead by example, and never give up.”
Our final day of Egypt-based programming featured a return back to @awladyorphanage campus for a Sunday night kickaround with the boys. Going in with an already-weary set of legs, Stephen had expected the session to be informal more than anything, but when he saw two rows of young athletes sitting patiently in front of him upon arrival, it was clear that these boys meant business. Still though, he couldn’t help but smile as his eyes scanned the day’s audience. Why? Because, only days after receiving them, nearly 75% of the boys were wearing their new @challengerhq camp tee-shirts with pride. Later on in the evening, as the schedule shifted over to a round robin pickup game, Stephen took notice of a particularly skilled player balling out on an opposing side. Turning to one of our Awlady contacts, Mido, he pointed in the boy’s direction and said, “That boy... he is very talented. He’s a very good attacker.” Strangely enough though, and especially so, given the young man’s skill level, Stephen didn’t recognize him. “But wait, Mido, you said he wasn’t here last Thursday? Why?” Stephen continued. “Because he was sleeping,” responded Mido. “Then why does he have a British Soccer Camps shirt on today?” Stephen questioned. “Because the other boys gave it to him. They are his brothers. They share everything... they all do,” answered Mido.
Last week, on the eve of our annual Giving Tuesday fundraising campaign, founder Stephen Schirra took to social media to highlight yet another year of Around the Worlds programming. He spoke with pride of the work we had done and the milestones we had accomplished, while gushing with gratitude for the community powering us to drive that work forward. “In August of 2015, I began the dream of what would one day come to be known as Around the Worlds. I could try to say it was a vision and I wish I could believe it was clear-cut at the time, but that was hardly the case. In honesty, it was a pipe-dream… but, still, it lit my heart on fire in a way nothing ever had before. A single program offered to beneficiaries in Peru quickly spread to Mexico, Jamaica, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic, and Nicaragua. Five countries became ten, ten became twenty-five, and soon after, twenty-five doubled to a record fifty countries on five different continents. Just like that, what had started as nothing but a dream had snowballed into a (still, at times) unbelievable reality. That same year, with a bank account balance of -$100, that dream was presented in the humblest of ways to a community that perhaps believed in me more than I could have ever believed in myself. But, you guys saw a kid with a ball and a dream, and you told him he could and so he did. Since then, that same community, our Around the Worlds community, has rallied around our work & the kids our work exists for time and time again. You’ve seen us through the lowest of lows, through months-long pauses in programming, grant rejections, program cancellations, and more. And you’ve been there through the highest of highs, the milestones, the high-profile partners, the success of scholarship students, and our greatest wins. Dreams are important. Dreams are powerful. And for kids whose circumstances tip-toe the line of dreams being a luxury, there is no braver act than choosing to do just that – dream. So thank you, because for eight years now… you have allowed me to chase mine. You have permitted us to build ours. And you have empowered them to follow theirs.”
Happy Monday. Hope it’s been good to you. Upper body workout early afternoon Straight -arm lats pushdowns ; I enjoy this exercise movement so much. 2nd photo doesn’t show full movement…I bring bar closer to thighs with arms further back and hold. I know primarily this workout focuses more on latissimus dorsi, but it hits more. That includes your lats (upper back), pectorals (chest), forearms, biceps, and triceps. Chest work with dumbbells…Around the Worlds, Chest flys with static hold, Overhand/Underhand flys Abwork - crunches, flutter kicks, bicycles, criss crosses, and included some bridges as well #monday #upperbodyworkout #abs #dumbbellchestworkout #straightarmpushdown #chestflys #aroundtheworlds #flyvariations #statichold #enjoytheweekahead
#coreday + #cardio I added a couple of new exercises, #aroundtheworlds & #suitcasemarch (don't have enough room in my current setup to do full on #suitcasecarry ) and man was I feeling nearly every part of my #core by the end. #godspeed by @wagewar was on the #daylist called "Heavy rock out early Tuesday morning" by @spotify and again Wage War is one of my favorite bands. Saw them twice last year & they were amazing both times (as both opener & headliner.) #coffee #coffeelover #coffeeaddict #hazelnutcoffee #morningcoffee #postworkoutcoffee #neverboringmugs #mugshots #captainamerica #steverogers #firstavenger #homegym #strengthtrainingforwomen #powerblocks #resistancebands #resistancebandsworkout #treadmill
There’s no doubt at all that the beauty of sport was fully on display throughout our second session in collaboration with Bogota’s own @fundacionxunmananamejor. Just ahead of the program’s conclusion, Stephen gathered the kids up in a circle, for it was time to pass out giveaways for participants and prizes for our day’s victors. “Mano o Cabeza” winners were all leaving the session with their choice of a brand new soccer ball, a prized possession (and a hot commodity) especially around these parts. Seeing his teammates each step forward to claim their own ball, Stephen watched as one boy’s head sank lower and lower, until his eyes’ gaze met nothing but the cement below his feet. Earlier in the day, the boy had consistently advanced deep into each round of “Mano o Cabeza” - outlasting opponents as much as twice his age. But despite a visible desire to win and the effort to match, he just couldn’t quite see things through. So, when it came time to claim prizes, the disappointment that had seemingly subsided from before made yet another unwanted cameo. Only one ball left in the pile, a young girl stepped forward, wrapping both her hands around it. She hugged it close to her chest and smiled from ear to ear. Not because of what had just happened... but, rather, for what was about to. The prize in her hands for hardly two seconds, Stephen looked on as she immediately turned around to hand the ball to that same boy. “Wait, why did she give you the ball?” Stephen asked. “It’s mi hermana,” he answered. “She gave it to me because today is my birthday.”
Share it with your beloved! #kluchit #kluchitsays #kluchitpicks #purelove #lovebonding #aroundtheworlds #lovequotes #beloved
Fresh off the success of our first ever Egypt-based session, we decided to keep the momentum going with yet another collaboration alongside the amazing folks over at @awladyorphanage. Ahead of this multi-continent programming run, Stephen had shared a conversation with our contact at Awlady, Rania. Despite having already set up a training session with the older, more skilled boys, Rania had hoped we might be able to run an additional class or two with Awlady’s younger beneficiaries - children not necessarily as well-versed in the game, but children who certainly made up for in energy what they lacked in experience. A day ahead of a Saturday double with Awlady’s younger population, Stephen arrived on campus, eager to prepare the next day’s materials. As he sat in front of a pile of deflated soccer balls chopping it up with a friendly staffmember, a couple young boys entered the fold just to see what the buzz was about. After introducing themselves, they quickly got to work, setting up a pattern of assistance vaguely resembling that of a conveyor belt. One boy would remove a ball from the towering pile, another would puff out its insides in the loose form of a sphere, while the last would hand the finished product over to Stephen for him to inflate. Knocking hours off of what would have easily been an all-day task, Stephen hoped he might see the boys the following day in order to properly thank them for lending some very helpful hands. However, with no access to a guestlist, he could only cross his fingers - instead offering the boys a simple “Shukran” and bidding them farewell. Luckily, that farewell was as short-lived as Stephen had hoped. “Hey coach!” yelled out a group of boys during Saturday’s early morning session. It was the three boys who had so gracefully (and willingly) helped him inflate soccer balls the day prior. They squealed with joy, approaching Stephen and exchanging high fives as they had just hours before.
SHOULDERS AND BICEPS 1. Seated snatch into press-4x8-12 reps per side 2. Back extension spider curls-3x10-12 reps 3. Dumbbell overhead press-3x8-12 reps 4. Behind the body cable curls-4x8-12 reps 5. Cable lateral raise-4x8-12 reps each side 6. Cable around the world-3x10-12 reps 7. Eccentric single arm preacher curls-3x5-6 reps each side 8. Reverse fly-3x10-12 reps 9. Rope curls-4x8-12 reps 10. Overhead external rotation 4x10-12 reps #shoulderexercises #shoulderworkout #bicepexercises #bicepworkout #buildingbiceps #overheadpress #shoulderpressvariation #bicepcurls #curlvariations #spidercurls #ropecurls #behindthebodycurls #reversefly #lateralraise #eccentrictraining #cableexercises #cablequeen #preachercurls #dumbbellshoulderpress #snatchpress #majorlutiefitness #fitness #exercise #aroundtheworlds #girlswholift #externalrotation #homegym
In mid-October, we kicked off programming in our 54th country with a Middle East-based collaboration alongside the incredible team over at @aneraorg. The session brought together over 25 young athletes from the Ain El Delb Cultural Club for an evening of organized instruction presented by Around the Worlds, and hearty snacks courtesy of Anera. However, to tell the full story about this partnership and how it came to be, we have to travel back in time. Almost exactly three months back... to the morning of July 19, 2023. Our founder, Stephen Schirra, was scheduled to headline an early morning lecture series in the eighth installment of ‘Peace Through Sport’ - a Marshall Legacy Institute program backed by the US Embassy in Lebanon. He would devote about half of the hour-long time block towards sharing some key lessons learned in eight years of service to Around the Worlds. Mainly, the importance of flexibility and the value of collaboration. Then, @marshalllegacyinstitute’s Anne Wooleyhand, would open things up for a Q&A session. As expected, the questions varied greatly. Some rang of lightheartedness, while others focused on deeper topics like inclusion and the metrics of success. But they all shared the same theme of intrigue. For they were all being uttered (or typed) from the curious minds of children based both in Lebanon and the United States. Time winding down, Stephen decided to field a few more questions. An underhanded, softball of a pitch he could knock out of the park - at least so he had hoped. What followed, though inherently innocent, was far from a softball. Well, that’s how it seemed in that moment given the logistical nightmare that would have followed. But, that question... it would ultimately lead to a beautiful collaboration between like-minded forces in the Peace Through Sport sector. “Are you planning to visit Lebanon to implement your program?”
We try to inspire all of our beneficiaries during our programs. We show them how soccer can positively impact their lives. And most importantly, we show them why we love the game. #AroundTheWorlds #UnifiedThroughSoccer #PlayTogether #LearnTogether #DreamTogether
I love mt fuji and i think it is my love of the mountains in japan that let me to seek other mountains around the world with sonata tours . Gunung Fuji Adalah Tempat yang Suci. Bukan hanya sebagai gunung tertinggi Jepang, Gunung Fuji juga juga adalah situs suci bagi agama Shinto sejak abad ketujuh. 💋 . #mtfuji #sonatatours #aroundtheworlds #mountain #fuji #fujimountain #mountfuji #bluesky #beautifuldestinations #beautifulmountain #travelmadefun
In early October, we opened up a multi-week, multi-continent run of programming with a stop at a new country in Around the Worlds’ story, but one absolutely booming with footballing talent - Egypt. Our first session, based in Cairo’s picturesque suburb of Maadi, had us linked up with an incredible organization known affectionately by its singular moniker - Awlady. For 70 years, @awladyorphanage has served as a safe haven for children coming from a wide range of circumstances. At any given time, as many as 300 children live on property, where they all receive quality food, dignified shelter, and a first-rate education. Despite a nearly five year gap since our last Arabic-speaking session at a refugee camp in Germany, Stephen touched up on his language skills and thankfully, enlisted the help of a talented local footballer named Mido - a young man of 24 years who came to call Awlady home at just 10 months old. Alongside Mido, Stephen ran through the most competitive drills in our arsenal, making sure to sprinkle in our curriculum’s most enjoyable mainstays as well. The kids, already seasoned veterans from the session’s first whistle onwards, performed with their all and were each rewarded handsomely for their efforts. Likewise, the team received a donation of high quality soccer balls that they could continue using long after the training session concluded. And as Stephen bid farewell to the boys only just for a day, Mido left him with the best parting words he could’ve ever asked for. “Stephen... let me tell you something. This ball is the best gift you could’ve ever given us.”
As our first Colombia-based program with Bogotá’s own Levántate y Anda wrapped up, football took a backseat while arts & crafts both entered the fold. Our venue, a cement futsal court, was swapped out for an airy rooftop room located at the very top of the foundation. Football profes were exchanged for arts maestros. And as for the kids, well, their hands took over as their (weary) feet enjoyed a well-deserved rest. The prompt of the day was simple, the kids would each be making a handcrafted friendship bracelet and a handwritten card. But they weren’t intended for those making them. Rather, they were to be collected and subsequently given to another set of beneficiaries somewhere else in the world. “Think of it as a little way to create bridges between communities, cultures, and countries,” Stephen said to Paula, a (relatively) new staffmember tasked with helping carry out the day’s session. Each hugging their own corresponding bracelet, the cards were to hold the kids’ dreams as well. Little snippets of what they someday wanted to do and who they someday wanted to be. The thought? That another kid, anywhere else in the world, might read one and realize that despite vastly different circumstances our dreams aren’t so different after all. “I want to be a policeman,” one said. “A firefighter,” read another. “A soccer player. A basketball player,” wrote a pair of young boys. One boy didn’t yet know what he wanted to be, but he sure knew what he wanted to do. “I want to visit Spain,” he had penned in his heart-shaped card.
The idea that our programs might just serve as the first positive interaction between a child and sport. The thought that an intervention so small might still make all the difference between a young athlete falling in love with the game or falling out of love with it. We do not take these things lightly. We never have. We never will.
SHOULDERS AND BICEPS 🔥 #shoulderworkout #shoulderexercises #bicepworkout #bicepexercises #buildingbiceps #overheadpress #shoulderpress #cableshoulderpress #pikepress #bicepcurls #cablecurl #zottmancurls #dumbbellcurls #neutralgrippress #trxbicepcurls #staticcurls #lraise #frontandlateralraises #aroundtheworlds #externalrotation #resistancebandexternalrotation #majorlutiefitness #bcstrength #bombshellsportswear #fitness #exercise #homegym #girlswholift
Space theme 1st Birthday 🪐 #spacethemebirthday #1stbirthdayparty #birthdaythemes #partyplanner #eventplanner #blueballoons #tuftex #explorepage #trending #fyp #firsttriparoundtheworld #aroundtheworlds #firstbirthday
Our third day in a marathon week of Colombia-based programming took us back to the familiar streets of Suba for a first-time collaboration with new beneficiaries, Toma Un Niño de la Mano. @tomalodelamanooficial exists (and has existed) as a safe haven for children in the community for nearly 40 years. For many, it’s a second home where they can come to find their passions, focus on their hobbies, and work towards being the people they always dreamt of one day becoming. And with the country as a whole still celebrating a record-finish by their national side in the Women’s World Cup, what better way to promote the foundation’s mission of “training the next generation of community leaders and encouraging social transformation through free personality & identity development” than with our (always-free) soccer curriculum. So for an hour, we played. The kids, they cheered. They rooted one another on. They listened when circumstances called for listening. They understood when understanding was required of them. And after an hour, what had been clear just five minutes into the session, had somehow become even more apparent. That this foundation, in more ways (and approaches) than one, was creating a new generation of not just gifted young athletes, but incredible human beings as well.
Our second session in just as many days took us to a new locality in northwest Bogota known as Suba. Already spoiled with a beautiful turf field located at the heart of a nearby community park serving as the morning clinic’s venue, we started the day by linking up with our first set of new beneficiaries from the ever-so-popular @fundacionxunmananamejor. For nearly 25 years, the foundation has provided children with a safe place to learn, grow, and play beyond the traditional settings of academia. The goal? To create good, upstanding citizens who will eventually go on to positively impact their families, schools, and ultimately, society. For them, “a better tomorrow” happens when kids are well-equipped with the necessary tools to succeed both in school and in life. Because a better tomorrow for them, means a better world for us. All of us.
After a lengthy break to focus on domestic programming, we opened up a long-anticipated return to international duty with an afternoon session in a country especially dear to our story over the last few years - Colombia. The late-August session, itself reprising a collaboration from almost exactly one year prior, was held alongside the incredible @flevantateyanda team at a nearby park in the Garcés Navas neighborhood. Having only increased operations since 2022, the foundation now positively impacts the lives of nearly 100 kids through their after (and before) school programming during the week, while extending its reach to dozens more during special Saturday sessions. For hours a day, children enter through the foundation's doors and are transformed into a world of wonder. A safe place for them to study art, learn photography, work on homework, practice sports, and more - all at an extremely affordable cost to them & their families. And when it came to wonder, this particular day's session would be no different. Making the most of our hour-long time block, familiar faces from that August 2022 session helped guide new participants through some of our curriculum's highlights - doing so with a smile on their faces and an extra hop in their steps. Many of them embodied a unique spirit of leadership, and it didn't take a captain's armband to show it. And as participants all left with a bracelet around their wrists, those same smiles that had been hidden on masked faces a year ago shined brighter than they ever had before.
Back in June, we linked up with the Springfield Boys & Girls Club for a day's worth of sessions across multiple different age groups. The collaboration, held for a second straight summer, coincided (appropriately) with @spfldbgc's Friendship Week. Keeping that in mind, Stephen followed a morning of drills alongside faces both old & new, with a special programming element perfectly in-line with the theme of the week. Making sure all roads and all lessons led back to friendship, staffmembers helped organize a small crafting session in the club's art room, with friendship bracelets and personalized cards on the day's agenda. Participants' creativity on the field itself a sight to behold, their creativity on the canvas proved to somehow be even more so. Every thread was woven with care and every pen stroke laced with love. And as the artists brought forward their letters, tattooed with flowers, smiles, and messages from the heart - the true beauty of Friendship Week shined through. For it didn't require a lesson nor an eagerness to learn. All it really took, was a willingness to give. "Coach Stephen? Can you bring this one to a kid in Puerto Rico?" asked a younger girl, tucking a red, white, and blue bracelet into her heart-shaped card. "Can you bring this one to a hospital? Even just one nearby, like Springfield Hospital," another boy chimed in.
Our latest run of Europe-based summer programming kicked off with an evening collaboration alongside @fundlacaixa’s “Invulnerables” project. The foundation, spearheaded by @sorluciacaram, provides refugee youth and their families with opportunities for holistic growth & development in Manresa. Lately though, the kids had found tremendous benefit in the introduction of sporting blocks, offered twice-weekly, where they could come to the turf field for a chat, a kick of the ball, and a smile with friends both old & new. This session was serving as a reunion of sorts, as it had been almost exactly four years prior that we had first linked up with Sor Lucía for a weekend of programs featuring two diverse groups of beneficiaries. And in 2023, just like back then... the children came and they did what they do best - they played. Leaving this time around with a brand new ball and a drawstring bag, as opposed to a ball and tee-shirt back in 2019, sure the take-home gifts were different. The takeaways, however, were largely the same. The spirit of competition, the exchange of skills, the responsibility of leadership, and the joy of camaraderie. And though our programs bookended several years in between, the foundation and the field remained exactly as they had before - a safe place for children from different countries, cultures, and religions to enjoy the beautiful game.
Vision. Discipline. Community. Three core values at the heart of the Hartford Lions Soccer Academy coaching philosophy. Three core values that we've had the privilege of seeing hard at work ever since first linking up with @htfdlionssoccer back in 2020. Recently, though, they've taken on a new challenge. Perhaps, their toughest one yet. But their most important one, too. Education. Through the development of a blended soccer & enrichment curriculum, HLSA remains more committed than ever to fostering positive youth development both on and off the field of play. They've done so by incorporating learning materials into their evening sessions, with these modules serving one main purpose: to expose children to the global nature of soccer and the cross-cultural beauty that exists within the game. And how have the kids, the young lions, taken to these lessons? Well... judging by the photos, they sure do seem to be enjoying themselves. Vision. Discipline. Community. And now, education too.
"Be flexible. Be open to change." Two very simple, yet invaluable lessons in this field. And two lessons that would ultimately be tested ahead of our second Abidjan-based session during this West African run of programming. The afternoon collaboration with Groupe Scolaire Lonny-Rose was set to be the crown jewel, the marquee event at the tail-end of a week of sessions. The kids would be out in droves, with dozens more watching from their classrooms overlooking our playing space. Beneficiaries were ready to show up & show out, but it seemed like the weather had other plans. A string of clear sky and (nothing but) sunny days had been followed by an absolute downpour. "Rain until 11 AM," a forecast read. An hour later, "rain until noon." Things were looking grim, to say the least. The program was set for 2:00 PM, and the rain wasn't set to stop until well after that. Yet, what could've easily been a grey cloud over programming proved to be anything but. Two o'clock rolled around and the kids came out dressed to the nines. Our captain of the day, Dia, guided them through each and every drill, with their excitement and competitiveness only rising as the day grew older. And as the program began to wrap up, a Lonny-Rose staffmember put it best. "Rain or shine, the kids were gonna be here. It’s football. Of course they were gonna be here."
BACK, BICEPS, AND SHOULDERS After 5 weeks, I still have some catching up to do, but it's been really exciting seeing small improvements in my wrist every day 🙌 3 sets of 8-12 reps (per side, if applicable) #backday #backworkout #backexercises #bicepexercises #shoulderexercises #pulldown #latpulldowns #pulldownvariations #narrowgrippulldowns #rockingpulldowns #rows #widegriprow #rockingrows #bicepcurls #behindthebodycurls #cablecurls #staticcurls #externalrotation #aroundtheworlds #cableexercises #steadyimprovement #postsurgeryworkout #majorlutiefitness #supgymfitness #fitness #exercise #workingout #homeworkout
Earlier this month, we wrapped up a multi-week run of European programming with a small session alongside the kids of Fundação Champagnat - Casa da Criança de Tires. From the outside in, a Portugal-based session sure might seem daunting. The struggles of a language barrier. Coupled with that, the (expected) challenges that come from working with children from extreme circumstances - like our participants on this particular day. Luckily though, these factors, even this program... none of these were firsts for Around the Worlds. In fact, the session, itself, was a reprise of an April 2017 collaboration with Fundação Champagnat. So the program felt less like an introduction, and more like a reunion, of sorts. Six years had passed. Faces had changed, facilities had upgraded, and staffmembers had moved on, but play had stayed very much the same, as play so often does. Because whether it was practicing penalty kicks, learning new freestyle tricks, or participating in fun, little games designed to challenge both body & mind - the kids did it all with a smile on their faces. And that joy, it extended through from head to toe, only growing as each ball and each kick hit the back of the net.
•Chest and Tricep Tuesday• ~The second video I kind of got cut out of frame~ -Chest Press 10x4 -Around The Worlds 15x4 -Tricep Cable Push Downs 10x4 -Skull Crushers 15x4 -V Bar Tricep Push Down 15x4 (not shown in video) #chestday #workout #aroundtheworlds #gym #workingout #tuesday #fitnessjourney #fitness #gymequipment #dumbbells
•Full Body Friday• **Yesterdays workout** •Sumo Kettlebell Swing 4 sets of 10-not shown •Kettle Bell sumo squat 4 sets of 10-not shown •Around the worlds 4 sets of 10 •Gluteus Minimus Cable Kicks •Hamstring Curls 4 sets of 10 •Quad Extension 4 sets of 10-not shown •25 squats alternating with 15 glute bridges (not shown) for 4 sets Alternating for 4 sets: •Donkey Kicks (10) •Fire Hydrant (10) •Low Plank Kicks (10) •One legged push-up on Knees (10) •Low and Slow Butterfly Kicks (10) •Crunches with knees up (10)-not shown in video •Alternating Leg Lifting Crunches (10) #fullbodyfriday #gym #lifting #femaleswholift #kettlebells #dumbbells #aroundtheworlds #quads #hamstrings #shoulders #glutes #upperbody #lowerbody #strength #friday
Isn’t it special to think that even after seven and a half years of this journey, there’s still room for firsts? For new milestones, new stories, and perhaps, the potential for happy endings borne from less-than-happy beginnings? Well, this last week-long run of programs in (and around) Accra was significant because, with it, Ghana became the 51st country in the world to welcome our curriculum. And sure, that, in and of itself, warranted celebration. But we've never been ones to dwell on celebration, so that milestone was quickly followed by an afternoon session in Abidjan - etching Ivory Coast’s name into Around the Worlds’ record books as the 52nd country to receive our (always) free-of-charge programming. And just like in the 51 countries prior, the kids showed up and man, did they show out. They competed fiercely for the better part of an hour and when the time finally came to celebrate one another, they did so with incredible poise & grace. At the end of the day, though, isn't that what it's all about? Because those new milestones, those new stories, and those beautiful moments... they don't exist without the kids. Around the Worlds. What we do. What we are. What we hope to one day be. None of it exists without them. So thank you, to these young athletes and the 7,700 others. Thank you for allowing us to share this game with you. And thank you, for making our story more beautiful than we could've ever made it ourselves.
Back to work! Heavy sandbags and excellent commentary by @longarmanomaly and @aloysius.smashpass also 😂 It’s good to be back at the gym again. Yes it was just a week but it felt like…10 days or something 😏 #goodmornings #aroundtheworlds
Yesterday evening, founder, Stephen Schirra, flew back into town following a long, two week-run of Europe-based programs in order to give out our annual Gabriel Yeris Scholarship. This permanent scholarship fund, now in its 7th year, has distributed over $8000 in financial assistance to graduating seniors demonstrating exemplary service to others within their school, community, and more. And this year’s recipient, Anna Guerette, has certainly done just that - serving as a well-rounded student and an incredible role model for both her classmates and underclassmen, alike. A student council member, class Vice President, and National Honor Society inductee, she still manages to find time to better her community through involvement with PAABS (Peer Advocates for a Better Society), Unified Basketball, and the Women’s Leadership Coalition. Last, but not least, her time spent with LINK Crew in the mentorship of young freshmen, ensures that the next generation is afforded the same opportunities she once had during her four-year tenure at Ellington High School. We can’t wait to see the further good that she does as she embarks on a new journey this fall at the University of New Hampshire. Congratulations from the Around The Worlds family, Anna, we’re proud of you!
Elevated your fun! 📶📦💎🦾🦿📶📦💎🦾🦿📶📦💎🦾🦿 Grab a step platform, box, chair, etc., set your timer and raise that heart rate! (Bonus pic: this morning’s sunrise🌅) . . . #circuittraining #totalbodyfitness #functionaltraining #strengthtraining #homeworkout #dumbbells #dumbbellworkout #deltworkout #fullbodytraining #functionalfitness #funworkout #stepups #burpees #resistancetraining #aroundtheworlds #strengthworkout #strengthandendurance #thebeatles
For our second stop on this West Africa-based programming run, we linked up with Spintex’s own Blue Bear International School for a double-shot of morning sessions. The school has created quite a reputation for itself thanks to its high educational marks and its low enrollment fees - two area-leading standards the school’s headmaster, Mr. Emmanuel Ofosu-Addo, takes great pride in and plans to carry well into the future. Leading from the top down, Blue Bear has managed to instill a deep culture of learning within its student body, a passion only rivaled by their affinity for sport. And as our second class of the day, one filled with excitement, competition, and joy, wrapped up - it was clear to see just where that culture developed. Sitting down for a conversation with the school’s proprietress, Madam Doris, Stephen listened intently as she proudly shared some of the charity work the school participates in during off days. Their most recent operation, a feeding program for street children from the neighboring blocks, saw both faculty and students involved as they came together to cook, distribute food, and volunteer their time & talent as well. “We might never see the fruits of this labor, but it still matters, and that’s why we do it,” she said, with a smile. “I love that,” responded Stephen, “and actually, it reminds me of this one quote...” Madam Doris nodded her head, beckoning Stephen to continue. “The one who plants trees, knowing that he will never sit in their shade, has started to understand the meaning of life.”
windmills in zaanse schans 🇳🇱 #windmills #zaanseschans #zaanseschanswindmill #netherlands #holland #zaanse_schans #explorezaanseschans #amazing #traditional #windmill_village_holland #windmillsnetherlands #visitzaanscheschans #netherlands #village #europe #architecture #heritage #beautifuldestinations #aroundtheworlds #solobackpacker #traveller #explorenetherlands #netherlands🇳🇱 #dutch #zaanscheschansvillage #beautiful #2023
Just this past April, we opened up a West Africa-based programming run with an early morning collaboration alongside the @littletokensfoundation team. Following a 90-minute commute east of Accra, towards a community known as Little Ada, Stephen led two groups of students from Nuhalenya DA Primary School through a condensed version of our curriculum. Setting aside an hour for each set of participants, he touched on leadership, effective listening (and communication), close-quarters ball control, and more - all while maintaining a spirited level of competition throughout. And for the better part of two hours, our group of nearly 50 young athletes showed up & showed out, displaying incredible quality on the pitch, but even better attitude off of it. Opening up the session, Stephen had asked the children for their energy, attention, and respect, and there's no doubt they delivered those tenfold. For they had cheered each other on from exercise to exercise. Guided each other through drills that came more naturally to some than others. Clapped loudly for themselves, but even more so for the staffmembers, teachers, coaches, and volunteers on hand who wanted nothing more than for them to succeed both in sport & in life. And with our second session drawing to a close, select group members could even be seen carefully laying out the very jerseys that had just been used (and subsequently cleaned) at program's end - so that they could be utilized well into the future not just by them, but by an even younger generation of aspiring footballers, too.
Khaldoun here. I created my tour company to experience culture and culinary tastes with locals & warmth of their country. Be an intrepid traveler not a tourist!! #acetroupe #memoriestolastalifetime #intrepidtravelernottourist #travel #aroundtheworlds #travelers #bucketlist #magicalplaces
Full body Knockout ❤️ kettlebell burnouts 🔥💪👏💪 * * #iamstrong #pushkick #fitspo #swings #kick #jab #aroundtheworlds #punch #badaf #kickboxing #boxinggirl #womenempowerment #livelovelaughsweat #kickboxinggirl #kickit #moodboost #coreconditioning #boxersofinstagram #keepmovingforward #werk #punchitout #grrrlpower #chronicpain #fitness #athomeworkouts #homegym #kettlebell #kb
Having the chance to revisit beneficiaries for repeat sessions, whether months or years removed, has been an incredibly special component of our recent work. Plus, there’s a sense of comfort in being able to swap names & introductions for a “how are you?” or an “it’s good to see you again!” These program reprises allow us to see, to a degree, continuity in what we do. To track the progress of our participants. To witness firsthand their growth.. not just as young athletes, but as human beings, as well. And as Stephen stepped through the sliding front gate of Mis Primeras Huellas’ compound for a repeat session just nine months after our first one there, he found himself cloaked by the warm embrace of reunion once more. “Hola profe!” yelled out a sprightly young boy, named Yostin. He had served as our first session’s captain only a few months before. And just behind him, stepped forth a young girl, named Eimy. Her words, though brief, were thoughtful & sweet. “Thank you profe for coming back to visit us again and for sharing your football lessons,” she said, flashing a million dollar smile.
Back in December, Argentina lifted the 2022 World Cup trophy and in doing so, ignited a nation. This victory woke up a generation of dreamers, inspiring millions of kids who hoped to one day be champions in their own right, both on & off the field. Now, even months removed, the World Cup triumph is very much still alive and felt on the streets of Buenos Aires. On every corner, a new mural of the World Cup trophy along with the country’s heroes holding it. Down every street, both locals and foreigners alike, donning trademark blue & white striped Argentina kits. And as we opened up a double session on the outskirts of the city alongside trusty partners, @manosabiertas, it was more than clear that this deep sense of pride in country had (unsurprisingly) made its way down to the next generation of footballers the South American nation had to offer. “What did you guys learn today?” asked Stephen, surveying the group for those most engaged. “A new trick!” yelled out a young girl. “Listening and ball control,” said another participant. Then, a young boy named Jano, easily the most talented player in the bunch, raised his hand. He had made it to the late rounds of ‘mano o cabeza’ before ultimately bowing out to a different victor, only to come back strong in our King of the Hill dribbling game to emerge as the sole winner. “Ganar y perder,” (winning & losing) he said poignantly. “And there are lessons to learn in both, right?” asked Stephen. “Yes, profe,” he said, clutching a new ball in his hand and a new bracelet in the other.
This morning was a quicker workout than usual (I’ve got work quite a bit earlier than normal today). But a workout is a workout regardless of time. Today I chose abs/core and picked up my kettlebell. Around the worlds are a great exercise for not only your core, but they also work your glutes, hip flexors and your lats! The trick is to make sure you are not moving your torso while doing this exercise. If you’re wondering what I’m zoning out to while working out; I’ve been bouncing back and forth between @kallie_branciforte and @thechiconthecheap for tips on great dollar tree finds, organization tips, life hacks, and many other things. Check them out if you are looking for some great tips, tricks and finds! #kettlebellworkout #aroundtheworlds #kettlebellmarches #abs #strongwomen #youcandoit