Big Goals, Big Wins

A new initiative from the Sandals Foundation will empower youth in the Caribbean to learn soccer skills while also teaching the importance of taking care of natural resources

By Kristi Eaton

Future Goals is a partnership between the foundation and The Netherlands’ AFC Ajax team that turns fishing nets sourced from the ocean and recycled plastic waste into soccer (locally known as ‘football’) goals for children.

The program launched on the Dutch Caribbean island of Curaçao with plans to expand to other places in the Caribbean.

“As a Caribbean-born company, we are dedicated to showcasing this region’s beauty to the world while investing in its future – from protecting its oceans and marine life to developing generations to come,” said Heidi Clarke, executive director of the Sandals Foundation.

Ghost nets, or fishing nets lost at sea, make up nearly half of the world’s ‘plastic soup,’ a term for the accumulation of waste, including plastic, that ends up in the ocean. The Future Goals initiative is working with Curaçaoan plastic recycling company Limpi to create the goal posts. Initially, 100 goals will be installed at four dozen elementary schools throughout the island. Adidas is also providing more than 600 soccer balls to the initiative. A training program is also part of it.

Clarke said that Curaçao was selected because leaders knew it was the perfect spot to hit the ground running with the program.

“Sandals Resorts was gearing up to debut its first-ever resort on the island and with the existing relationship between AFC Ajax and Curaçao, starting our Future Goals journey there was the perfect match for this groundbreaking partnership,” she said. “Our existing relationship with Limpi Recycling brought the vision from prototype to reality. Curaçao is just our starting point, and we are eager to expand Future Goals into a Caribbean-wide program.”

Guests staying at Sandals Royal Curaçao can have an impact on the program, through Pack for a Purpose – travelling with gently used soccer accessories such as jerseys, cleats, socks and shin guards in their luggage and donating them to the initiative upon arrival in Curaçao.

But you don’t have to be a guest to make an impact. A donation of US $1,400, or part thereof, provides a local school in Curaçao with an eight-week training program, two Future Coaches and equipment for a year. Donations for the program are collected directly via the Sandals Foundation website, where 100% of every dollar goes directly towards funding impactful and meaningful initiatives – including Future Goals.