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Michele Leite never dreamed that a volunteer project in Brazil would lead to international soccer games in Steamboat Springs.

But that's exactly what will happen next week, when Leite hosts an indoor soccer fundraiser at Steamboat Springs High School. Leite said the event is notable not only for the underprivileged Brazilian children it will help, but also for the impressive display of local cultural diversity it will showcase.

"It's really important to mention that everybody is together for one cause," said Leite, 26, who has lived in Steamboat for six months and works as an au pair for a local family. "It's so open here to difference. : I'm just happy that I'm here in Steamboat, and we can make it happen. : Steamboat is not just an American place - at least not in the winter."

Six teams will face off in the five-on-five games that begin at 9 a.m. March 1 in the Steamboat Springs High School's old gym. All the players live in Steamboat but will play on teams representing their native countries of Argentina, Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile and the U.S. Leite said she had enough interest also to field Jamaican and Colombian teams but not enough court time to accommodate them.

"It's a chance for the : cultures to get together and intermingle and play a game that we : love," said Kayleigh Esswein, a SSHS sophomore and member of the Culture Club who is helping organize the event. "We definitely have a bunch of different cultures. It's nice to see them all come together. : I'm not surprised that (Leite) was able to get that many teams together. I'm just really glad that it's happening."

The Culture Club and the high school's Spanish National Honor Society decided to support the event after hearing a presentation from Leite, and high school soccer players will make up the U.S. team in the event.

Proceeds will benefit Os Brinquedos Magicos - loosely translated "the magic toys" - a Brazilian charity that introduces disadvantaged children to culture and the arts. Leite and other Brazilian university students founded the project in 2006 and gave presentations at elementary schools across the state of Bahia in Brazil.

Their work ultimately led to a partnership with a social assistance institution called Lar Fabiano de Cristo in the city of Itabuna, Brazil. The institution serves hundreds of poor or otherwise disadvantaged children.

"It's a nice institution," Leite said, "but kids don't have toys, don't have a library. I feel that they need this stuff."

In 2007, 200 of the children participated in workshops led by the university students on subjects such as music, poems, drama and dance. Leite said the money raised will help purchase items such as instruments, costumes and crafts for the project.

In addition to purchasing tickets to watch the games, people also can donate money to the cause. Checks should be made payable to the Steamboat Springs High School Spanish National Honor Society. For more information, contact Leite at 819-3164 or michele_riodecontas@hotmail.com.

Aline Da Rocha Soares, a Brazilian Rotary exchange student at Steamboat Springs High School, assisted with this story as a translator.

- To reach Brandon Gee, call 871-4210

or e-mail bgee@steamboatpilot.com