What is the "FPI"?

"In 1985, I unexpectedly discovered that playing footbag (besides being a helluva good time) offered a unique and effective way to promote "group building" (social work) and to model cooperation (peacework) -- in schools, on the street, in cities, rural areas, among wealthy, poor, working class, among old, young, among all races, in other countries, cultures, nearly anywhere on the planet. This epiphany led me on a circuitous, decade-long "footpeace" journey, kicking, performing, sewing, teaching and prankstering throughout the US and in several Central American countries." -Daniel-

The Footbag Peace Initiative was launched in the winter of 1988-89 when five idealistic, young, "gringo", athletes embarked on an unusual citizen friendship mission through war-torn Central America. Armed simply with the game of footbag, sewing equipment and 50 lbs. of leather scraps, the group staged participatory public spectacles of play, performance, sewing and street theatre. These young American futbolitistas evoked great curiousity, playful connection and a powerful goodwill among peasants, workers, kids, even soldiers in and around the cities and backwater villages of Guatemala and Nicaragua! The game of footbag, affectionately tagged futbolito (little soccer ball) by some indigenous Guatemalans, dramatically facilitated these athletes' attempt to build intercultural dialogue and challenge age-old barriers of racism and hatred with their Central American counterparts.

Genesis of the FPI: Traveling widely in Central America in the 80's, working on material aid and human rights projects (Central America Journals) I've witnessed how narrowly and negatively we "gringos" are often viewed by our "Latin" neighbors. Centuries of misunderstanding and cultural stereotypes on both sides of the Rio Grande beg for private citizens to step forward and forge real personal connections with citizens of these so-called alien or "enemy" cultures. In the mid '80's I read an article by Hampshire College professor, Michael Klare which described citizen peace initiatives as an alternative means for concerned individuals to get involved in a troubled world. I probably already knew that musicians, artists, dancers, clowns as well as doctors, carpenters and relief workers had an important role to play in peacemaking and "people's diplomacy". But footbaggers??

The Seed of an Idea: On New Years Day, 1987, waylaid (en route to Nicaragua) with 14 other carpenters in Tegucigalpa, I had an experience which awakened me to the unusual and dynamic power of footbag... (Excerpted from the Central America Journals.)

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"...Waiting out an unplanned and unfriendly layover in the Honduran airport, I start a low-key hack jam on the edge of the tarmac with one of my companions. Immediately, a Honduran airport guard (already suspicious of our brigade to Nicaragua) strides menacingly toward us. But, before he can speak, I toss him the footbag and half jokingly invite him to join our little game. Es un nuevo juego americano, muy parecido al futbol... An aficionado of soccer (futbol) he cannot resist one quick kick to show off to my attractive female friend... then another and another. The severe looking hondureño remains in the game, dribbling and leaping, all the while cradling his automatic weapon at his side. Within minutes this bizarre circle attracts the attention of another guard who marches quizzically toward us. He too is quickly engulfed in the, now bilingual, game. Finally, the comandante appears on the runway demanding his turn with la pelotilla! By now I look up to realize that the entire airport terminal is assembled on the balcony, cheering, laughing and enjoying the enormously silly yet dead serious spectacle of los gringos and la policia playing futbolito..."

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Later in 1987, I returned to the States and began recruiting (five) like-minded young athletes who formed the first Footbag Peace Initiative teaching and performing troupe. From footage of this first, highly successful three month expedition, independent filmmaker, Robbie Leppzer and I produced a 30 minute video-documentary (released in '94) entitled: "Futbolito: A Journey Through Central America", which has been widely shown and has become popular among teachers, students and kickers.

Current Projects: Today, the FPI represents a diverse coalition of educators and athletes, teens and others who practice and use the sport of footbag, for its own sake as well as to teach communication, team building, self-esteem, non-violence, etc, both in America and abroad. The FPI continues to organize periodic footbag friendship missions in locations across North America.

Closer to home the FPI offers health education and violence prevention workshops as well as sewing and kicking (workout) classes for schools and youth centers. We also run a peer leadership (Footbag Mentors) program and health education workshops (Challenging Peer Violence) for at-risk youth and others in Western Massachusetts. This website is the latest effort to minister to youth while networking and extending the footpeace message to other kickers, youth workers, peace activists, craftspeople and teachers -- and to further spread the remarkable sport of footbag. Please join us!

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