VOICED : Punos contra las pandillas en Guatemala

In a poor neighborhood of Guatemala City, young people are turning to boxing as a way to escape crime and violence. The sport helps them avoid drugs and form healthy friendships. Many have left gangs and returned to their studies. The Hoodlinks program, part of the Guatemalan Olympic Foundation, trains around 200 children and adolescents in various sports, including boxing. Despite the dangers in their community, there is hope that these young athletes can rise above the violence and become successful sportspeople.

What is the main reason young Guatemalans are turning to boxing in their neighborhood?

• To learn self-defense techniques

• To compete in international tournaments

• To stay away from crime and violence

• To become professional athletes

What is the Hoodlinks program by the Guatemalan Olympic Foundation known for?

• Training young people in various sports

• Building new sports facilities

• Providing scholarships for international studies

• Organizing community festivals

How has the sports program impacted the lives of some young people?

• They have become professional athletes

• They have started their own businesses

• They have moved to safer neighborhoods

• They have returned to school and made healthy friendships

What is the environment like in the settlements where the youth live?

• Rich and prosperous

• Dangerous with gang activity

• Safe and peaceful

• Isolated and rural

What do authorities hope to find among the young people involved in the sports program?

• Future politicians

• Potential athletes

• Future community leaders

• New teachers