Children at the Kyabirwa Primary School, funded and built by FUNDaFIELD. Photo: FUNDaFIELD.

A 19 year old Jewish teen will be among the 6 recipients of the World of Children Award, which has been referred to as the “Nobel Prize for Child Advocates”, for his work building soccer fields inside impoverished and conflict sticken communities around the world.

Kyle Weiss, a college Freshman from California, will be honored in New York next month for founding FUNDaFIELD, which has built soccer fields in South Africa, Uganda and Kenya, and has plans to build in Haiti, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Swaziland.

“At 13, Kyle Weiss met soccer fans from Africa at the World Cup Games in Germany and quickly learned how soccer breaks down social barriers on the field while also giving kids a chance to develop friendships and learn important life skills,” the World of Children Award organization said in a statement.  “Inspired, he and his brother founded FUNDaFIELD in 2007 to build soccer fields in regions where children have experienced conflict or major trauma.”

Over $5 million in cash grants have been awarded to nearly 100 honorees in the 15 year history of this award, which is dedicated to furthering the cause of helping needy children around the world.

“It’s an honor to shine a light on the mighty, mighty efforts of these brave and innovative changemakers,” said actress Stephanie March, celebrity ambassador for the World of Children Award. “I am inspired beyond words.”