Bill Clinton, Carlos Slim to Launch Soccer Project for Mexican Youngsters

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 09: President Bill Clinton addresses the audience before the "Walk In My Shoes: Conversations Between A Civil Rights Legend and His Godson on The Journey Ahead" book Event at The Paley Center for Media on February 9, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images) (2011 Getty Images)

Bill Clinton and Carlos Slim are teaming up for Mexican youngsters.

The former U.S. president and the Mexican tycoon are planning to launch a project using soccer to encourage 900 teenagers and young adults to return to school in a border state ravaged by drug violence.

Renato Flores, spokesman for the Fundación Carlos Slim, said Friday that the project will transform lessons and intellectual skills developed through sports into marketable job skills for youth in the northern state of Chihuahua.

The Clinton Giustra Sustainable Growth Initiative says in a news release that the program will involve people ages 16 to 24.

Flores says both foundations will provide an undisclosed amount of money to the project and monitor its development through a local organization in Ciudad Juárez, epicenter of the drug war.

Based on reporting by The Associated Press.