"Ben, as co-founder of 'Todos Juegan', how do you think sports, especially football, can change the lives of young people at risk of being excluded in tough neighborhoods? What impact have you seen so far on the kids in the project?"
"Football offers children a possibility to change their lives. It was a huge factor in my own life. It taught me valuable lessons and brought me closer to my friends and family. It’s about learning to work together, pushing through challenges, falling down, and getting back up. For a lot of these kids, football is the first time they feel like they’re part of something, like they belong in a community. I’ve seen kids show up with zero motivation and no confidence, and after just a few months, they’re part of the team, just like any other kid. They realize their effort matters, that they can actually make a difference—not just in a game, but in their lives. When you see them light up after scoring or hug each other after a win, you know we’re doing something way bigger than sports. While it can be life-changing for underprivileged youth, it’s also very important for all children to be in diverse sports team. Integration helps both underprivileged and privileged youth – on one hand underprivileged youth are offered a chance to access facilities and support systems otherwise out of their reach while privileged children are exposed to a more diverse set of peers, increasing their awareness and creating a more well-rounded society."
"You’re from Boston but living in Madrid now. How has that international experience shaped the way you work with vulnerable young people here in Spain?"
"Living in Boston and seeing different cultures has taught me that the struggles these kids face are pretty much the same everywhere. Things like lack of family support, poverty, and lack of opportunities exist everywhere. I was young and naïve when I was living in Boston – I never paid much attention to societal inequality in sports, or other areas. I moved to Spain 3 years ago and have always lived in Malasaña. I only found out about ADC Malasaña, my local football team, after 2 years of living in the neighborhood. Jose, my colleague and founder of Todos Juegan (also the vice-president of ADC Malasaña), introduced me to the reality of poverty among the youth in my own neighborhood. This time, I couldn’t turn a blind eye. I promised to help Jose with the social inclusion project at ADC Malasaña, and now we’ve decided to expand it beyond our neighborhood with Todos Juegan. Here in Spain, I’ve been amazed by how important community is and the deep love people have for football. For these kids, it’s not just a game—it’s an escape, and in some cases, can act as a lifeline. I think that the fact that my parents came from different countries before settling in Spain, and seeing how difficult it was for them to succeed with limited support, has inspired me to try to help children in similar situations, whether or not they are immigrants.
"Aside from your passion for football, you bring a business mindset to 'Todos Juegan' from your consulting work. How do you think having a solid business plan can help scale the project and help more young people?"
"Honestly, to make a lasting impact, you need a solid plan. Football might be the heart of 'Todos Juegan', but strategy and planning are what keep it running. My background in consulting has shown me that if we want to help more kids, we have to think about how to grow the project and how to run it sustainably. We have to be very specific, very targeted. More investment means we can bring this model to more neighborhoods, more cities, and even other countries. I’ve seen firsthand how it can change lives, and with the right resources, we can reach thousands, maybe even millions. The more we invest, the more kids we can help escape poverty and find a better future. Football is the tool, but the framework behind Todos Juegan and the dedication and planning behind the association will drive us forward."
"What are the biggest challenges you face at 'Todos Juegan' when it comes to helping young people without family support or those living in care centers? What kind of support or investment do you think is key to overcoming these challenges?"
"The kids who don’t have family support or live in care centers have huge barriers in front of them. A lot of them feel abandoned, like the system has forgotten them. The hardest part is earning their trust. It’s tough for someone who’s been let down so many times to open up and that takes time, but we have seen that it’s possible and the results are amazing. On top of that, we’re always struggling with a lack of resources—whether it’s people or materials. We need more coaches, more psychologists, more mentors who can be there for these kids, not just on the field, but off it too. One of the pillars of Todos Juegan is support off the field – we connect children with football teams, but once they are in a team, we encourage them to leverage each team’s resources and each team to provide support for them. I think investing in well-trained staff is key. These kids don’t just need football; they need someone to talk to, someone who listens, who guides them; football can open the door to that. With more support, we can give these kids the tools they need to succeed—not just in football, but in life."
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