A journey fueling passion and hope: Dream Building Fund alum FUDELA at the Olympic Games Paris 2024

The Olympic Games Paris 2024 is in full swing, radiating its powerful magic and inspiring people worldwide. Among the many stories of dreams and determination, the journey of FUDELA, an alum of the Dream Building Fund (DBF), shines at the side of the Olympics, telling a story about a dream coming true. From 2019 to 2021, FUDELA’s DBF project, "Points That Tear Down Barriers" used table tennis to integrate migrants and refugees into the host community in northern Ecuador. This year, their dream journey led them to the heart of the Olympic Games in Paris, witnessing the world's best athletes in action.

Breaking Barriers with Table Tennis

FUDELA's project, "Points That Tear Down Barriers," has been a beacon of hope for vulnerable and marginalised children and young people in northern Ecuador. This region hosts many refugees fleeing guerrilla wars in Colombia and severe socio-economic crises in Venezuela. By leveraging the uniting power of table tennis, FUDELA has facilitated the integration of Venezuelan and Colombian migrant and refugee youth with the local Ecuadorian community.

The Journey to Paris

Eager to experience the electrifying atmosphere of the Olympic stage, FUDELA reached out to us with a heartfelt request: to help the refugee kids secure tickets to watch the table tennis matches in Paris. With the support of the ITTF, a delegation group made this dream a reality.

At the Olympic venue, the kids and young people from FUDELA were enthralled by the world-class table tennis performances. Mauricio J. Córdova, the delegation leader, shared, "This was the first time these kids traveled by plane and the first time they went out of their country. Attending the round of 16 table tennis mixed doubles matches showed them the passion and joy that only sport can create, no matter languages or nationalities, as well as the multicultural richness of our world. It was also surprising for them to see men and women competing at the same level and under the same rules and conditions."

For Victoria Salerno, a 15-year-old who fled Venezuela due to its political turmoil, the Olympic experience was profound. She was amazed by "the energy, vibes, and the players' capacity for fighting to overcome certain moments of their matches." Inspired by her experience, Victoria plans to implement multiplier table tennis activities in her school in Quito, promoting values such as mutual respect and friendship.

Davis Baque, another 15-year-old from La Troncal, a small town in Ecuador's coastal region, emphasised the importance of "teamwork and communication in sport and life, which was easy to note before each service when players would prepare each play with specific symbols."

Saray Fuertes, now 15, from Chical, an indigenous town near the Colombian border, was part of the DBF project as a child. She was thrilled to be part of a professional table tennis match and, like her other peers in the delegation, was grateful for the magical afternoon in Paris.

The journey of FUDELA and its young participants to the Paris 2024 Olympics is more than just a trip; it is a testament to the power of sport in inspiring lives and building dreams. As these young people return to Ecuador, they carry with them the inspiration and values of the Olympic spirit, ready to share and multiply these lessons within their communities. Committed to being alongside and fostering dreams through the power of the sport, we will continue supporting worldwide aspirations that go beyond competition to come true.