El Valle del Chota in northern Ecuador has the country's second highest population of afro-Ecuadorians after the coastal province of Esmeraldas.
This valley has become famous over the past three decades for producing a number of accomplished and world-renowned boxers and soccer players who have helped various international teams and leagues to win boxing and soccer championships.
Some of the most important soccer players in Ecuador are from Chota.
Even with all these great male athletes state support, private investment, and education in the region are still highly lacking. Boy and young men here look at sports as the only way of helping their families to fight poverty.
Nowadays these communities face many struggles for water, poverty, illegal traffic with Colombia. They are fighting (and playing) to improve the conditions in their community.