A Christmas Wish for Comuna 13!

Many of you know that I went to Colombia this past Summer to study Spanish, and to explore another part of the world I had yet to see. My favorite thing about exploring this wide world we live in is to see the beauty of the "Imago Die" (Image of God), in the human spirit through out the world.

One of the most beautiful examples of this was in a neighborhood called "Comuna 13", which is historically one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Medellin. (and for those of you who are addicted to watching Narcos on Netflix, you know that Medellin has had more than it's fair share of violence). 
(See pictures of Comuna 13 and the soccer field below)

The language school that I attended while in Medellin Nueva Lengua, introduced me to this Neighborhood and some of it's inhabitants. At the top part of this neighborhood on the the steep hillside we were introduced to this lively bunch of kids doing what brings them the most joy....Playing futbol (soccer for us crazy folks from the US). 

Growing up in the US playing soccer, I had manicured fields to play and practice on where I felt safe, dreamed of being able to play just like Mia Hamm, and met some of the my best friends! I want to help these young kids whom I fell in love with in Medellin have the same opportunity...(though they are prbably dreaming of playing just like James Rodriguez from the Colombian National team and not Mia Hamm ;)).

This Christmas I want to join with my friend and Spanish professor at Nueva Lengua, Anderson Mejia, to raise money to help build a safty fence for these kids at Comuna 13 soccer school in Medellin! This fence will cost approximately $3000, and anything we are able to raise through this page will go directly to building the fence. 

Caring adults have developed a soccer school that helps the kids focus on a sport and takes them away from social problems like gangs, drugs, and prostitution among others. 

The soccer field is a humble place for these young kids to play and dream! And with the help of all of you we can make this place a lot safer and more useful for the kids who play there. 

 My sincere hope is to be back in Medellin in the coming year, and to be able to go and see the kids playing again, and then up date you all on the progress of building the safty fence. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns.  

Donations of any size, however small or large are welcomed! 

Muchas Gracias! 

Jenna Louise

(At the completion of this campaign, I (Jenna) will withdraw the money from gofundme, and send the money to Anderson Mejia in Medellin, to deliver the money directly to the Soccer School foundation in Comuna 13. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns in regard to your generous donations.)