I am Eric Lopez, the founder and president of Sponsor Zone, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports the most vulnerable and often forgotten children of Dakar, Senegal. As a young boy, I ran on a track and field team there, where I felt safe and supported by coaches who guided me to success in national and international arenas. This experience built my self-esteem and drove me to persevere through the immigration process to American citizenship and higher education to become an educator in a Rhode Island public school.

The increase of poverty in Senegal and the loss of hope have pushed many young Senegalese to brave the Atlantic Ocean for Europe. But unfortunately, it is an increasing crisis that most of them perish in the large canoes on our coasts; in 2020, the deadliest shipwreck claimed 140 young lives. This crisis prompted me to do something for these children to inspire hope for the future.

One effort of Sponsor Zone is funding a three-week summer camp in Dakar for ten to17-year-old youth. Our goal is to restore interest in Senegal in the sport of track and field for youth, which has waned in the rising economic allure of soccer and basketball worldwide. Using the 2026 Youth Olympic Games, held in Senegal, as motivation, Sponsor Zone offers this camp from August 1 to August 19, 2022. Doubling the enrollment over last year's camp to 100 children, we plan to provide them with the most basic needs for success - proper nutrition, appropriate apparel as needed, and motivation to develop academically and physically.

While all coaches and adult mentors are volunteers, the success of this event depends on dollar donations that provide food, water, and bus passes to the camp. $15,000 is the projected cost of food and bus transportation for 100 participants for the three-week camp at $150/child ($10/day x 15 days).

Can you sponsor a child for the 3-week camp for $150? For one week for $50? For one day for $10?

Your donation, however small, will go toward inspiring champions in the games and life.