Harmony Through Soccer

 

 

 

 

A week-long program combining professional soccer, social-emotional learning, and family engagement to build confidence, character, and positive life skills.
 

 

Peace building
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Anti-bullying
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Gang prevention
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Healthy families
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A program for youth and their parents/families
 

 

Inspired by the successful Harmony Through Soccer initiative in Los Cabos, Baja California, which uses sport as a tool for peacebuilding, character development, and
positive decision-making using curriculum provided by a local nonprofit
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Held in 2024 and 2025, for 200 elementary students and their parents
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Cost~$2500 USD
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Uniforms
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Materials
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Food
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Soccer balls

STRUCTURE

The Harmony Through Soccer program can be "delivered" 
in any structure that meets your local needs.  
In Cabo San Lucas, it is held as a one-day, five hour session
 
In Uganda, there's weekly soccer practices at their school for orphans and needy children. 
The lessons are throughout the year when students are playing soccer
 
One group would like to have the program delivered during a school vacation week
(like Christmas or Spring break in America)
 
Another group is planning on a tournament for local and neighboring communities.  
They will use parents, Rotarians, Rotaract and Interact members to deliver the peace-building tools.
 

• Professional soccer training


• Social-emotional learning sessions led by
Rotarians and Community Leaders
Soccer Staff


• Parent engagement sessions
 

Identify sustainable social-emotional learning curriculum available within community
(County Department of Education, local non-profit organizations)

 
For more information:  Ron91911@gmail.com

SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL CURRICULUM
The program addresses:
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Self-Awareness
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Self-Management
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Social Awareness
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Relationship Skills
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Responsible Decision-Making
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Gang Prevention
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Anti-Bullying
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Peace Building

Social-Emotional Learning
Soccer is what brings the children and their parents to the clinics.  We add the peace-building information during the breaks between the soccer practice.  
 
In Cabo San Lucas, Baja Mexico, we partner with a local non-profit AMCIAH.  Their staff use lesson plans that they have developed to teach good citizenship skills, gang prevention, conflict resolution, self-esteem, getting along with one another.  We like AMCIAH because they are local to the community, they provide the instructors, and if the children and families attend another one of their programs, the lessons are reinforced.
 
For this reason, we suggest interested Rotary clubs who wish to import this program to their community, please check with other non-profit organizations as well as your school authorities and form partnerships.
 
Here are some links that will provide sample lesson plans which may be adapted to fit your local needs:
 
NewGEN Peace builders:  https://www.newgenpeace.org 
Children’s Institute:  https://www.childrensinstitute.org/
Better Good Science Center:  UC Berkeley:  https://ggsc.berkeley.edu
 
We have had meetings in Santa Clara (Silicon Valley), near San Francisco, California.  Their county department of education uses the YMCA's PROJECT CORNERSTONE.  https://www.ymcasv.org/ymca-project-cornerstone.
 
San Diego Department of Education offers many programs, including CASEL:  https://casel.org/
 
 
Video on Social Emotional Learning

Let us know how we can help.

 
Email Ron Schoenmehl, secretary and president elect (2026-2027) at
RON91911@gmail.com
 
 
 

  • Need a PowerPoint presentation customized to your group, no problem

  • Want a sample budget for a district or global grant, we will share one that we have used

  • Need a guest speaker for a club meeting on Zoom - We will be there!