AFJA: sports organization connects US and Central America
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Steven Levy Cruz, a US citizen of Salvadoran descent, founded AFJA in Los Ángeles to provide organized sports opportunities for young people in both the United States and Central America.
Levy noticed the difference in sports access between Los Ángeles and his family’s hometown in El Salvador, and began informally providing equipment during summer visits. This grew into the Academia de Fútbol Juvenil Amatense, officially established in 2017, which links sports with education, community service, and school attendance.
AFJA now works with over 800 young people aged 5 to 23 in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and California. The organization collects used sports gear in the US and distributes it to youth in Central America, partnering with professional clubs like LA Galaxy and the Los Angeles Kings to host donation drives and cultural events. These partnerships have expanded to include “Heritage Nights” celebrating Central American culture, with a portion of ticket sales benefiting AFJA’s programs.
Beyond fundraising, AFJA fosters community and cultural connection. They operate a food truck, “Pupusas With a Purpose,” selling traditional Central American food at events, and have expanded into other sports like hockey and baseball. In 2019, Levy received the MLS WORKS Community MVP award, bringing $25,000 to AFJA, and the organization continued to support communities during the Covid-19 pandemic by shifting its focus to emergency aid.
