Physical & Mental Health for the Impoverished

This is Emilio Soto. He is 12 years old and from Kansas City. He's part American and Hispanic. He goes to Ryogoku Soccer Academy. He is doing a passion project on helping the houseless improve their physical and mental health by playing Soccer and Basketball.

What is a passion project? It is when you have a passion for something that you love and want to use your passion to solve a real-world problem. You try to solve it by researching and creating solutions for the community. He recently presented his passion project, Physical & Mental Health for the Impoverished, to his parents, schoolmates, schoolmates' families, and staff. Emilio struggles with stage fright but he pushed through it and did great. Emilio now wants to take his passion and research and bring it to life.

Emilio and his classmates love helping the community. The school has made many relationships with organizations like Don Bosco, Northeast News, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, and more.

Emilio wants to help the houselessness in Kansas City by playing soccer and basketball. Emilio is creating an event where he is partnering with Target, Price Chopper, Holiday Inn, Kansas City Parks and Recreation, Mattie Rhodes Center, and Dick’s Sporting Goods.

Emilio’s goal is to help make the Kansas City houseless population healthier. He cares about his community and wants to make it a better place so more people want to live in Northeast Kansas City. Emilio believes the community must come together to make this community a healthier and better place to live.

Emilio wants people to help or give to the houseless because at the end of the day, they are also humans and we should treat others the way we want to be treated.

Ryogoku Soccer Academy is an International Middle and High school in Kansas City that provides a community-based learning model tied directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Students and staff work to ensure meaningful learning opportunities occur within the classroom and in the community. We recognize our students learn through being active and engaged inside and outside of the classroom. They go into the community daily to make meaningful and inspiring connections.

To learn more follow RSA on Instagram: @RyogokuSoccerAcademy