Our story started on a small Caribbean island, where I met another expat who, like me, had loved fútbol her entire life.

I reached out to Loren about joining a local women’s team. At the time, I hadn’t played in over nine years—two knee surgeries will do that to you—and I wasn’t sure my body (or confidence) would cooperate. But the moment I stepped back onto the pitch, something shifted. The game came back to me, and just as quickly, so did a sense of purpose. What began as a casual return to fútbol turned into a deep friendship and a shared commitment to the women around us.

As we prepared for a local tournament, we started to notice a pattern. Our teammates—women in their 20s, 30s, and 40s—had never received formal training. First touches were inconsistent. Heads stayed down while dribbling. Games defaulted to “kickball,” just booting the ball back and forth. Everyone loved fútbol, but no one had ever been taught how to play it.

That realization led us to ask a bigger question: why?

We asked our teammates. Then coaches. Then people throughout the community. The answer was always the same: there was no program, no funding, and no long-term development for women’s fútbol. The focus had always been on the men’s game.

And then we noticed the girls.

They stood on the sidelines watching—daughters, nieces, cousins—eyes locked on the pitch, full of excitement and possibility. It was impossible to ignore. If this was the reality for grown women, what chance did these girls have?

That’s when everything clicked.

We realized that by leveraging our networks in soccer, work, and beyond, we could build something different—something intentional. A place where girls could learn the game properly, feel safe, build confidence, and see a future for themselves in fútbol or beyond.

That’s how Academia de Futbolistas was born.

We founded Academia de Futbolistas with the belief that sport can change lives. Our mission is simple but powerful: to create real opportunities for girls and young women in Honduras by providing high-quality training, mentorship, and a supportive environment through fútbol.

In many Latin American communities, girls simply don’t have the same access to training, resources, or encouragement as boys. We exist to change that.

We’ve received support from a close friend to begin the process of obtaining our 501(c)(3) status—but we don’t want to wait six months to get started. The need is here now, and so is the excitement from the girls and families who are ready to participate.

Our immediate goal is to fund our first 12 months of training so we can build a strong, sustainable foundation.

Support Monthly Training Costs

Our training pitches cost $60 per hour. We plan to host practices three days a week for two hours each session. That means just $60 funds an entire practice for 20–30 girls—creating immediate, tangible access to the sport they love.

Help Us Provide Safe Transportation

One of the biggest barriers for girls is simply getting to the pitch safely. Our long-term goal is to provide transportation from different parts of town. A bus costs approximately $50 round-trip per practice. Supporting transportation doesn’t just help girls attend; it keeps them safe and ensures that no one is excluded due to logistical issues.

Every dollar goes directly toward access, opportunity, and empowerment.

By donating, you’re not just funding practices or buses—you’re helping girls step onto a field knowing they belong there. You’re helping build confidence, community, and a future that hasn’t always been available to them.

Thank you for believing in this vision and in the power of fútbol to change lives.