By Sports Desk
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the LALIGA FOUNDATION, the charitable arm of Spain’s top football league, have launched a new partnership aimed at promoting social cohesion and healthy living among migrant and host community children in Peru.
The initiative, which builds on IOM Peru’s El Balón No Tiene Fronteras (Soccer Has No Borders) program, will provide soccer clinics, leadership workshops, and community-building events to help young migrants integrate into society.
“The integration of migrants here in Peru is not just a humanitarian effort, it is an opportunity to build stronger, more cohesive societies,” IOM Director General Amy Pope said during her visit to the country last week. “Sport unites people across cultures, and no sport is more global than soccer. Through this partnership, we are creating spaces where young people – both migrants and Peruvians – can learn teamwork and leadership, as well as fostering connections that go beyond the game.”
The collaboration, supported by the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), will involve LALIGA coaches working directly with students and local leaders to instill values such as respect, sportsmanship, and solidarity. IOM will work with Peru’s Ministry of Education to ensure the program’s sustainability and reach across public schools in Lima, where many migrant children are enrolled.
During her visit, Pope met with President Dina Boluarte and Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzén, signing a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to strengthen national development programs supporting migrants in Peru, Peruvians abroad, and those returning home.
She also visited the Central Orientation and Assistance Point (PAO) in southern Lima, where more than 7,000 migrants have received essential services, including documentation support, primary healthcare, and psychosocial assistance since August 2024.
This initiative is expected to further strengthen community ties, leveraging the power of soccer to bridge cultural divides and promote inclusivity among Peru’s diverse youth population.