The Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR) was established by the Australian Government in 2001 to advance Australia’s relations with Latin America.
COALAR has an annual grants program. To be successful, projects must enhance and strengthen links between Australia and Latin America, particularly in the priority areas of business, education, science, sustainability, tourism, cultural promotion and sport.
In 2016 we applied and were awarded funding to run a School Footy program in Santiago, Chile. At each school we conducted coaching clinics, teaching the students how to kick, mark, bounce and handball.
The program concluded with a Carnival Day, with all the schools coming together to play matches on soccer fields. When we told them there was no off-side and they could use their hands, they thought it was Christmas.
