Children triqui, barefoot heroes who defend indigenous communities through sport

More than five years ago, the eyes of the world turned to Oaxaca, one of the poorest states of Mexico, when a basketball team made of Aboriginal children of the Triqui ethnic group he swept in every international tournament he played. Today, these children have grown up but have given entry to new children who have maintained running the legend of barefoot heroes.

The basketball team Children who have exhibited their culture and the situation of the peoples of the region against "the children's privileges from here "in the second camp the children of indigenous and indigenous peoples to Mexico City.

"Here we want try to live with children from this city and talk about the triquis children's experiences "Explained Guillermo Merino, a youth coach involved in this project launched 10 years ago.

Over the years, Triqui kids have gone to become known throughout the territory, especially by to play barefoot, something that brought them various problems such as suffer discriminationaccording to Zaira Sosa, one of the players.

Although they have gained recognition, Merino complains that It has always been difficult -and is still- get accessoriesbut the people involved in this project believe that "we must strive to achieve our goals".

"We want kids to have recreational games instead of being at home or in the street with vices., exercise and most of all have fun, "said the coach.

There are already several children of this basketball team who have succeeded go to the university, where they realize the dream that Zaira, who hopes to reach dream of being "dentist, have a scholarship and a part to give "to their parents.

For 10-year-old Gabriel Hernández, another of the children on the team for five years, he places a high premium on peer support and coaching. "We are here to have fun and have fun, it's a very nice festival for celebrate the day of the child"he added.

The antidote to obesity

Before high numbers of childhood obesity In Mexico, sport can become the ideal weapon to eradicate this problem that places the Aztec country at the forefront in this field, according to the UN. That's what the coach has planted Sergio Zúñiga, founder of the Indigenous Academy of Mexico (AIM), which supports the tribal children of Oaxaca.

"Sport could be part of the solution to this serious problembecause it helps them to be better people, to know how to work in a team, to be more disciplined, to understand a healthy competitiveness and to be much more tolerant, which is much needed in this country, there is a lot of violence and conformism, "Zúñiga explained.