Combining football, technology and education to launch FIFA Digital Learning Program in Paraguay

Football, technology and education took center stage when FIFA's digital learning program was launched in Paraguay. 10,000 children from vulnerable communities across the country will benefit.

The program was launched with the signing of an initial agreement between the FIFA Foundation, the Ministry of National Education and Science and the Paraguay Football Federation.

In addition to Paraguayan President Santiago Peña, the ceremony was also attended by FIFA Foundation President Mauricio Macri, Paraguayan Minister of Education and Science Luis Ramirez, CONMEBOL President Alejandro Domínguez, and APF President Robert Harrison.

As part of its social commitment through football, FIFA is now launching the program in Paraguay after Belize. The program includes computer science and robotics courses in schools and provides teachers with practical tools and activities to integrate programming and robotics into everyday lessons. This enhances digital skills and skills such as analytical thinking, creativity, collaboration and problem solving in vulnerable children.

“One of FIFA’s 11 strategic goals is to make a positive impact beyond football. In the words of FIFA President Gianni Infantino, football unites people and can truly change lives. “Football, technology and education are a great combination that not only engages students and motivates them to learn; “It also provides them with important tools and skills for their future.”

Mauricio Macri added: “Football, technology and education are closely linked. All of us at the FIFA Foundation are very proud to use football to provide young people in Paraguay with important skills that will one day lead them to a career in an exciting field. I would like to thank our friends and colleagues at the National Ministry of Education and Science and the Paraguay Football Federation for their commitment to this joint initiative, and I very much look forward to continued close cooperation in the years to come.

One element of the program in particular makes football hearts beat faster: participants learn how to use their newly acquired knowledge to develop robotic prototypes that can score and predict penalties, passes and shots. Thanks to this programme, it is hoped that many more young people in Paraguay will acquire job-relevant skills.

The program will also be launched in India and Mauritania at a later date.