In an exciting blend of football and cutting-edge technology, the FIFA Foundation has launched its Defenders of the Goal: Football and Technology for Education program in Paraguay. This innovative initiative, supported by the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) and the Ministry of Education and Sciences (MEC), aims to revolutionise learning for thousands of students in the country.
Kicked off on Thursday at the Julio Correa School No. 269 in Luque, Defenders of the Goal (Defensores del Arco) will expand to more schools, reaching approximately 30,000 students. It seeks to develop digital skills and foster abilities such as computational thinking, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving.
Defenders Of The Goal: What the goal entails
The program also promotes social and cultural inclusion through educational projects that integrate technology, coding, robotics, football, and learning. The launch was attended by Paraguayan President Santiago Peña and FIFA Foundation President Mauricio Macri, who was in the country for the 75th FIFA Congress.
Hosting the 75th FIFA Congress, a historic first for Paraguay, ignited Asunción with global football passion last week, drawing over 2,500 leaders and legends to shape the sport’s future. This was the sixth time the FIFA Congress was held in South America, and it coincided with the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) celebrating 100 years of FIFA membership, having joined in 1925.
100 schools across Paraguay
The Defenders of the Goal programme will reach 100 schools across Paraguay, engaging over 30,000 students in the first and second cycles. It includes activities designed to boost learning and highlight the transformative power of play, technology, and culture in education.
Paraguay is among the countries selected to implement this Digital Education Programme over the next three years. The initiative features bilingual content in Spanish and Guaraní, provides technological equipment, teacher training, and encourages community involvement through workshops and project fairs.
