FORTALEZA, Brazil, June 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

In 2014, the whole world is watching at the soccer stadiums in Brazil. But the real (soccer) life takes place outside. Not far from the stadium Estádio Castelão, on the popular city beach Praia de Iracema, a different kind of tournament will take place on June 16 and 19: In the "1^st COPA LA SIESTA" several teams with players aged 7 to 19, all of them students of the beach soccer academy "Dito Escolinha", will compete against each other. Their aim: To give those people of Fortaleza who spend their time outside the stadiums their fair share of attention.

"Dito" José Expedito de Moura, former member of the Brazilian beachsoccer team, initiated this tournament. He founded the beachsoccer academy "Dito Escolinha" ten years ago to offer children from the Favelas a better future. He is supported by the German hammock company LA SIESTA and the charity "Tor zur Hoffnung e.V."

Fortaleza is one of the hammock epicenters of Brazil. Many families make their living by producing hammocks in outwork. These are the people we want to profit from the current attention as well:  Part of the cooperation between LA SIESTA GmbH and "Tor zur Hoffnung e.V." is that out of the proceeds from each COPA hammock, a hammock designed by LA SIESTA as an homage to the Soccer Cup, € 5 are donated to Dito's beach soccer academy.

Journalists in Fortaleza are welcome to attend the 1^st COPA LA SIESTA on June 16 and 19 or to participate in a hammock factory tour guided by Cornelius Grisar from the LA SIESTA GmbH management, on June 18 and 20. It will also be possible to meet women who make their living by producing hammocks, thus supporting their families while keeping the hammock as part of the Brazilian heritage alive.  

"Dito Escolinha" was founded in 2003 by "Dito" - José Expedito de Moura, PE instructor and former member of the Brazilian beachsoccer national team. In his academy, he takes care of approx. 80 students between the ages of 7 and 22 years. The Rhine-Hessen-based German company LA SIESTA GmbH has specialized in developing, marketing and selling hammocks since 1991. Founded by Dorothee and Alexander Grisar, the family business today has 25 employees from ten different nations. The founders of the German charity "Tor zur Hoffnung e. V." are the Brazilian Keila Heins and her husband Stefan Heins. Together with Dito they are deeply committed to help the poorest children of Fortaleza. The combination of sports and education has already enabled many kids to break the vicious cycle of hopelessness, drugs and violence.

For details, please get in touch with Cornelius Grisar phone +558599251207 or +491743329077, email c.grisar@lasiesta.com

SOURCE LA SIESTA GmbH