Everton ace Yerry Mina launches charity in hometown helping 250 young Colombians

Everton defender Yerry Mina has launched a charity in his hometown with the aim of helping 250 Colombian children.

The 26-year-old is in his fourth season at Goodison Park having joined the Toffees off the back of his performances for Colombia at the 2018 World Cup.

Mina is still a regular for his country, racking up 35 appearances and scoring seven goals for the National Team since making his debut five years ago.

In the same year he launched the Yerry Mina Foundation, providing access to sports and education for children in Guachene – Mina's hometown.

The foundation reportedly provides jobs for 13 people and benefits 250 youngsters between the ages of 7 and 17 from rural districts.

New pictures show some of the developments the charity has made, including a swimming pool and a football pitch with its own small stand.

Talking to Everton's website last year, Mina revealed his motivation for establishing the foundation and detailed the benefits it offers to Guachene's young.

He said: "I try to do what’s right in my heart. Whatever good I’ve got in me, I try to pass it on.

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"My dad had the idea to set it [the charity] up.

"It is a place very low on resources. We had to establish something to give the young kids a chance – to be able to help them make their own decisions and choose the right path.

"They could have a lot of distractions, whether it be drugs or getting involved in carrying firearms, basically wrong examples in life.

"What we try to do is empower the kids so that they have other places to go. As well as playing sport, we put on IT classes and we also have dance and music classes.

"And when kids are doing well in school, we try to reward them with some activities. We see it as a way of recognising they are showing signs of following the right path and committing themselves to doing good things."

Speaking in the club's matchday programme at around the same time, he added: "Going back home means I always stay grounded, it stops me from straying and makes me feel sure about what I am doing.

"I can see the kids at the foundation are learning and growing, which makes me very happy. They are keeping on the straight and narrow.

"I hope in the future they can become business owners, doctors, dancers, whatever. I want to see kids maturing and doing what they should be doing."

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