“You are you; you are unique; you are special.”
America is a successful football referee
America Orellana’s path from a childhood marked by hardship to becoming a trailblazing female football referee is a testament to resilience, mentorship, and faith, with the words above being critical to her success. They were repeatedly said to her by mentors at Red Viva Bolivia when she was a young girl, and their impact has remained with her to this day. Viva was privileged to capture her story at our recent Cutting Edge conference, and if you want to be inspired and uplifted today, we encourage you to spend a few minutes watching the full video of an interview with her here.
America grew up in a home overshadowed by her mother’s struggle with mental health and severe financial difficulties, but found refuge in a nearby church, which offered food alongside a children’s programme. At first, her main joy was simply that, unlike at home, “I could eat that day.” As the eldest child, America had responsibilities to look after her siblings, and began to take her younger sisters to other activities organised by church partners of the Red Viva Bolivia network. Over time, the support offered by the network became a lifeline. Through Red Viva Bolivia, America joined programmes that taught leadership, self-defence against bullying, and built self-worth. Red Viva Bolivia celebrated 25 years in November 2024, and you can read more about the incredible work they do helping children to thrive here.
When a scholarship opportunity was offered in the area of sports, America applied “out of curiosity.” Although she liked sports, she didn’t practise regularly, and her mother would jokingly tell her, “You want to play sports, but you play clumsily.” Her first day in the referees’ meeting room was intimidating. The world of football was considered a domain only suitable for men, and she faced prejudices that assumed women couldn’t command authority over men on the pitch. However, she pushed through “with attitude, discipline, and perseverance … To enter the field is to enter like a lion, to go to order, to command, to have total control of the situation.”
She states that other people have identified her personal mindset as one of “I don’t worry, I take care of it,” with an ability to focus on solutions rather than obstacles. Teammates soon recognised her high standards and professionalism, telling her: “When I’m with you, I have to do my job well because you’re very strict.” She has excelled in her sport, winning various accolades and breaking ground in this male-dominated arena. She became the first woman to officiate as a central referee in both men’s First Division and Second Division tournaments in Oruro and has travelled across Bolivia, officiating in an all-female professional league, and representing the country in other countries, including Paraguay and Chile.
America’s gratitude to Red Viva Bolivia remains central to her life. For over 12 years, she has participated in charity events and volunteered at their centres, helping with schoolwork and passing on knowledge to the children attending church programmes. She has also used her role to inspire children, especially girls. One student, after seeing her on TV, told America of her amazement at seeing her maths tutor on the screen, and it made her think: “If this teacher could, I can.”
America admits her early life could easily have led her elsewhere. With no father at home, and needing to care for her mother and sisters, she had doubts about her future. What gave her hope was what she received from the team at Red Viva Bolivia - “the affection they have given me, the teaching … You are special, you can do it.” Another key element of her journey has been her Christian faith, and she recognises “how God has drawn me here and how He used people … to get where I am.”
For America, her success today is a result of many years of steady encouragement and guidance, and she is now playing her part in passing on encouragement to others. To young girls aiming for male-dominated professions, her message is clear: “Don’t give up, dreams come true; they are worked on.”
America’s journey is not just about breaking gender barriers in sport. What we see in her story is the transformative power of consistent mentorship offered within a church or network setting, and how important it is for a child to have a place where they are accepted, loved, and told how special they are. Her life embodies the truth that with determination, guidance, and faith, as America says, “We are capable of achieving anything we set our minds to.”