For the past four years, local coaches in Curaçao, trained by Ajax, have been teaching primary school children how to play football. Beyond the game itself, they also help the youth develop essential life skills and foster respect for their natural environment. The BBC followed the programme to discover and showcase why it has become such a successful and impactful initiative.
Curaçao makes its World Cup debut
The documentary is being released during a historic moment, with Curaçao making its debut at the FIFA World Cup. Future Goals tells the story of the generation growing up in the lead-up to this milestone, setting an example for all: children learning to play the beautiful with goals made from ocean plastic, on an island that is increasingly finding its place on the global stage.
3,400 kilograms of plastic waste collected
Since 2022, the Future Goals programme has served as a unique platform to encourage physical activity while increasing environmental awareness and responsibility among students. This is achieved through football goals made from recycled plastic and discarded fishing nets (“ghost nets”) recovered from the ocean. To date, the programme has collected more than 3,400 kilograms of plastic waste, gathered 1.7 million plastic bottle caps and repurposed 315 square metres of fishing nets. What began as a local initiative has evolved into a programme that the BBC felt deserved to be shared with audiences around the world.
Global stage
Cas Biesta, CCO Ajax: "We are extremely proud that the Future Goals programme is now receiving the global stage it deserves. We believe that young people are the future and have the power to shape that future. Together with our partner Sandals Resorts, educating young people in life skills and teaching them to care for their island is something we value deeply and that is firmly embedded in our club philosophy."
Tony, CMO Sandals: "This documentary tells the story of how we have been living for four years. Children in Curaçao are growing up with a different relationship to their ocean and football made that possible."
About Future Goals
Future Goals is an award-winning youth development and environmental education initiative led by the Sandals Foundation in partnership with AFC Ajax and Limpi Recycling. Launched in 2022 ahead of the opening of Sandals Royal Curaçao and renewed through 2028, the program transforms plastic waste and discarded ghost fishing nets recovered from the sea into colorful soccer goal posts for schools across the island.
Through an eight-week curriculum delivered by local Future Coaches trained in AFC Ajax's renowned youth development methodology, students develop soccer skills alongside lessons in leadership, teamwork and environmental stewardship. By combining the power of sport and sustainability, Future Goals is helping inspire the next generation of players, leaders and environmental champions while creating a lasting impact in communities across Curaçao. To learn more about Future Goals, visit online at https://www.sandals.com/futuregoals/.
About Sandals® Resorts
Family-owned Sandals® Resorts offers adults-only getaways that bring guests closer to the vibrancy, authenticity and spirit of the Caribbean. Pioneers of the all-inclusive vacation experience in the region, Sandals has 17 beachfront resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados, Grenada, Curaçao, and Saint Vincent and The Grenadines, each reflecting the genuine vibe of its island home. From local food favorites and global flavors to butler service and signature suites, including the Caribbean's first Overwater Villas, Sandals makes it easy for guests to go all in on vacation mode.
Beyond the resort gates, immersive destination experiences, like a newly piloted Island Inclusive dining program and MINI Coopers for island exploration, raise the bar on the all-inclusive vacation. Championing the region it calls home, Sandals demonstrates the transformative power of tourism and its impact on lives through its philanthropic arm, the Sandals Foundation. For more information, visit www.sandals.com.
