The program started with El Salvador Table Tennis Federation, in cooperation with the National Sport Institute, identifying suitable venues in the countryside where there are not many supervised activities available for young people. The ITTF then provided equipment for these venues through sponsors, as well as delivering technical coaching courses and social education of the program coaches
Japanese Table Tennis Manufacturer, El Salvador Table Tennis Federation, El Salvador National Sport's Institute (governmental sport's agency), 7 Municipalities of small towns or villages with lack of ressources, 2 scholar centers, "Our little brothers and sisters" (Foundation), "Tamarindo" (Fondation)
El Salvador is a developing country located in Central America with 6 million inhabitants. They suffered a 12 years’ civil war between a military dictatorship and guerrillas. In addition, economic problems and unemployment resulted in a massive migration, mainly to the USA, estimated to be 3 million alone from that country. Some of the social impacts are family disintegration, children without proper supervision and proliferation of gangs (locally called “Maras”). The Maras are one of the main problems in El Salvador. It became urgent to provide to the children tools that could be used for their future and teach them values like respect, tolerance and empathy in order that they do not join gangs later
A general coordinator (GC) was hired full time to supervise the program and the project involved these actions:
Approximately 600 children attended to the 5 inaugurations