Coexisting Through Sport
Josefina, Mexico
Proyecto Cantera is an NGO based in Mexico City where values, life skills and healthy behaviours are promoted and developed through football in collaboration with homes, schools, and community centres. Founded in 2008, the organisation works with girls, boys, adolescents and young people between ages 4-23 living in vulnerable conditions in Mexico, with a focus on development, respect, social inclusion, and gender equality. Josefina has been part of the Proyecto Cantera programme since 2016 and lives in Casa Hogar Margarita, a home in Mexico City for girls and boys aged 4-20.
My name is Josefina, I am 18, and from Veracruz. I have been playing with Proyecto Cantera for six years. My football journey began when I got into Casa Hogar Margarita at the age of 12. At first I did not like football because I was not good at it and I was very afraid of the ball.
Sometimes I was too lazy to train because I was not used to doing a lot of sports. I was also very nervous about going to matches because I felt that everyone was better than me and thought they were going to hit me hard with the ball. But later I got used to going to training and the matches and now I really like going.
At first I was afraid that the ball would hit me in the face and since I wear glasses, I was afraid that it would break them. I was also afraid that I would hit someone and hurt them.
I still have not lost my fear completely, But now, I control the ball better and it does not scare me so much. There were times when I did not want to play so I preferred to be the goalkeeper.
Becoming a goalkeeper got me to pay more attention to the ball so it would not hit me hard. I also began to think more positively, because I realised that if I kept thinking that I was afraid of the ball I would get stuck with that thought and stop moving forward. This new way of thinking helped me to improve my fear.
What did you try to capture with the photos? Was there a wider meaning?
The photos were taken at Casa Hogar Margarita, showing the people who make up the Casa Hogar, and with whom we share much of our time.
At first, as with everything, I did not have much connection with them. I did not like being there because I thought it was bad to be there. But over time I realised that it was not so bad. On the contrary, it is a support system for our parents, and I began to get along better with everyone. Now I really like living with them, they are like my family, and I love them very much.
I tried to show people enjoying the beautiful sport that is football. I like the photo where the players are greeting each other before they start playing, which means that they are going to play fair and have fun. This ritual is very important in this type of game.
Everyone is having a moment of coexistence through sport, although they are also competing. They are having fun, which is the important thing, since not everything in life is competition. Sport must also be used as a uniting tool to share good times.
What role does football play in your community and Mexican society?
Football is a sport for all of us to come together and enjoy some time together, and of course it is a sport that anyone can play.
What are the opportunities for women and girls to play sports in your community and in Mexico?
In my community the opportunities are good since Proyecto Cantera supports us, but in general in Mexico there are few opportunities, since there are people who continue to believe that football is only for men.
What impact has the Proyecto Cantera program had on you and your community?
It has had a lot of impact on me because it has made me get out of my comfort zone a little. In my community the programme has also helped us to have more moments of coexistence with others. Football is a sport which allows us to have fun, and we get to play with other people.
What ambitions do you have for the future in football and life?
In the future I want to finish my studies and get a good job.
I sometimes miss playing as a team where all my teammates are from Casa Hogar Margarita. It does not bother me to play with other people, yet sometimes I feel that there is not much communication between players. It makes me think I should also work on my communication skills, since sometimes I feel shy to talk to others.
What do you think the future looks like for sports in your community and country? What do you want to change?
I want everyone to have the right to play sports regardless of their gender or social class.
