The families of the players at Barça Academy Carolinas launched a project last season to collect sports equipment to help disadvantaged and vulnerable families in Africa. Relatives, players and coaches joined forces to gather new and good-quality second-hand football gear, with the aim of donating it to young athletes who, due to their economic circumstances, cannot afford it.

A small group from the Barça academy travelled to Gaborone (Botswana) to give football and volleyball lessons to boys and girls aged between 3 and 25. They donated football shirts, boots, goalkeeper gloves and balls, among other items, to support a group of young people who were forming a football team and competing in local tournaments. This initiative achieved several key goals: it introduced families to the idea of service as part of the Barça experience, provided tangible support to young players without access to basic sports items, and planted the seeds for what is now seen as a strong, ongoing commitment to community engagement.

Vision for this year: Barça values in action

Building on last year’s success, Barça Academy Carolinas has launched a comprehensive, structured community service program titled “Barça Values in Action.” This initiative marks a significant step forward in integrating the Academy’s philosophy — “A way to play. A way to grow.” — into the fabric of the local community.

The program is built around the club’s five core values: humility, effort, ambition, respect and teamwork. Rather than treating these as abstract concepts limited to the pitch, the project encourages players, parents and coaches to put them into practice through meaningful community participation.

Program structure

Each season will focus on one core value, with age-appropriate service projects tailored to different stages of development. Players aged 7–9 will take part in family-based initiatives such as park clean-ups and thank-you campaigns. Those aged 10–12 will engage in team projects like volunteering at food banks and collecting school supplies. Older players, aged 13 and up, will take on leadership roles by organizing fundraisers and mentoring younger academy members.

The program is organized around biannual service days — one per season and age group — strategically scheduled to complement the training calendar. This ensures maximum participation while minimizing disruption to academy activities. In addition, team captains will play a central role in organizing and leading projects, further developing their leadership skills.

Actions for this season

The roadmap begins this autumn with thank-you note campaigns around Thanksgiving, a Christmas toy drive, volunteering at a homeless shelter, and donating cold-weather items. The autumn initiative will focus on respect, featuring a food drive and volunteering at a food bank or sports equipment collection.

Goals

The aim of this program is to create a culture in which service is inseparable from athletic development — where Barça Academy Carolinas players understand that wearing the Barça crest carries responsibilities beyond the pitch. The academy seeks to position itself not only as a top-tier soccer school but also as an institution that shapes young people of character who make meaningful contributions to their communities. Last season’s sports equipment collection campaign showed that its families are both ready and eager to serve.

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