Dear Mr. Teeple:

Thank you for participating in this collaborative competition. We value the time and effort you’ve put forth and we would like to offer you feedback and some thought provoking questions from our Evaluation Team.

The model is well-developed and unique in using sport to teach job skills to disadvantaged children. The initiative’s impact on both boys and girls has been considerable, and funding has been consistent. However, support from the private sector and governments would reinforce the prospect of long-term sustainability.

Please use this input as both potential insights into your innovations, as well as constructive ideas for how to improve or grow your organization.

Warm regards,
The Changemakers Team

Paul,
Good luck to you and Ganar/VENCER & Partners of the Americas! As a Coordinator of the First Medical & Health Specialist program for the US Peace Corps, I was delighted when you joined the US Peace Corps, but I'm glad you're back working with Partners! It's been 5 years that I've been retired so I don't get to Washington DC much. Hopefully when I'm there we can get together over a cup of coffee!
Cheers!
Bryan Cooke
1933 21 Avenue
Greeley, CO 80631

Anything Paul Teeple supports is worth backing 100%!
How are you Paul? It's been quite some time since you left Partners for another great organization...
The US Peace Corps! I coordinated their First Medical & Health Specialist Training Program in Malaysia
for them!
May you and Ganar/Vencer win the prize! Good luck!
Bryan Cooke
Colorado-Minas Gerais Partner
1933 21st Avenue
Greeley, Colorado 80631

I vote for this team since it is my opinion that they are doing a fantastic job for youths.

I vote for Vencer project

T vote for Vencer project

Dear Tyler,

Thanks for your comments and questions.

Because vocational training differs based on market needs, how sport is included in that phase differs on each course. First, there is a tremendous carry-over from our Phase 1 training focusing on developing employability skills through sports. Vocational trainers continue to use sports examples in their classroom and workshop activities and apply them to the specific job skills. For example, they may talk about how the lack of teamwork and discipline in a game can result in the other team scoring a goal. In a work setting where youth are learning to use dangerous tools, the lack of teamwork and discipline can be serious injury. In other instances groups of participants work in teams and prepare competitions to demonstrate how well they've learned a skill. In other instances, guest speakers from the world of sport visit youth during technical training to talk about staying focused, the constant need to develop technical skills, etc........

Getting businesses involved can be tough, especially when the culture of corporate responsability is not strong and when they have hundreds of applicants for every job opening. We had to start by appealing to chambers of commerce and industry and those business leaders who could see the program's potential. Another approach is to talk about how our youth have strong employability skills. All businesses have a hard time hiring people who show up for work on time, are honest, work well with others, and can be trusted to get the job done. When we promote that aspect of our program and our participants, businesses are more willing to open their doors to internships. In Brazil, most businesses are required to hire apprentices. We help them fulfill their requirement in a socially responsible way while helping deserving and needy youth and
providing them access to potentially great employees.

Paul Teeple
International Director, A Ganar/Vencer Program
Partners of the Americas

Dear Paul,

I am wondering if you can provide an example of how soccer characteristics are implemented into a vocational training program. I understand the concept but would love to hear about something a bit concrete.

And it appears that this program aims to tie in a lot of local businesses to facilitate internships, what are the incentive structures in place for these local businesses to get involved in this program. I understand now that it has been highly successful and exported to other countries outside Brazil but what was the buy in when it was just starting out?

Thank you, I look forward to your response!

Tyler Ahn
Changemakers

Rafael,

Thank you for your kind words and most importantly for your work as a mentor. Your comments echo those of other mentors. It really is a win-win situation when someone volunteers his/her time and provides a positive influence in the life of a young person. We all can use mentors in our lives. For youth in the most vulnerable situations and communities, the presence of a mentor is especially important. I'm sure that the Vencer and A Ganar youth will one day gladly repay you and others by being mentors to others.

Paul Teeple
International Director, A Ganar/Vencer Program
Partners of the Americas

My name is Rafael Pinto and I participated in the Vencer program as a mentor this year in Rio de Janeiro. The Vencer team is doing a fantastic job in developing, organizing and implementing this program in Rio de Janeiro.

As a mentor, I was able to become more engaged with the youth in my city, along with providing them with knowledge and lessons learned from my own working experiences. The little we can do can go a long way and produce a huge impact in the lives of these young people, both in their personal and professional development.

I learned a lot as well from these young people, but the most important lesson I will take from this experience of being a mentor to these incredible participants of the Vencer program, is that they want what we all want in life, which includes stability, a job and a family. But they only need some new opportunities to be presented into their lives (like these trainings through the Vencer program provide), which can help unleash their potential and reach for their dreams. Vencer can help them attain these goals because they open the doors for these participants and offer them the option to excel with new work skills, while improving their own personal development skills.

Rafael Pinto
American University