Emanuel Angulo - Kicking Goals

One year ago, Beatriz Karina picked up her son from school, and fled her home country of Colombia. She spent time in Ecuador during her immigration limbo, convincing her 8 year old son Emanuel, that they were just having a fun vacation. Luckily, some of her family already lived in New Zealand, so she was able to come here and set up a life away from the violence that is just a part of life in Columbia.

“The violence is very scary. Over there, I know people, one day, then the next day they are executed, for no reason. I couldn’t let my son stay there.”

Emanuel is having trouble adjusting to a different type of life, the culture change confuses him, and he is frustrated by his school-home-school-home routine. In Columbia, you could just go and join in a game of football on any street or park, but here it is not the case. He is a very active and strong young man, but he is in desperate need of something constructive to do with his time. Beatriz is having trouble providing this for him, since she only speaks spanish. She learning english but the language barrier stops her working at present. Beatriz is loving the lifestyle and relaxed atmosphere here in New Zealand. 

Getting involved in a club team for soccer (or basketball in the summer) will help expose him to more of the kiwi lifestyle and help him to make new friends and enjoy our sporting culture. Until his mother is able to find work he will miss out, so providing him with some equipment and having his subs paid will be invaluable to helping this will-be young kiwi find his feet in a place we’re all lucky enough to call home.

A special thanks to Emanual’s sponsor, Maisey Harris & Co, and supporters, Fosters, Davidson, Twaddle, Isaac Lawyers, and Tessa Hickson

Location: Dinsdale, Hamilton

School: Forest Lake School

Sport: Soccer (Winter), Boxing, Basketball (Summer)

Barrier: Financial