The Socio-Sports School that Real Madrid and Misiones Salesianas have started in Egypt carries out its activities at the Don Bosco institute in Alexandria. The Salesians have been working in the North African country since 1896 for the most disadvantaged children, offering them education and dedicating various social programs to them, from which their families also benefit. Specifically, 90 young people of both sexes attend the football and basketball courses at the Salesian socio-sports school.
The Alexandria institute is part of the collaboration project of the Socio-Sports Schools that the Real Madrid Foundation has started with Misiones Salesianas in Egypt, and is only one of the 21 that are part of the alliance undertaken between these two institutions – a collaboration that is present in 15 countries on three continents and that accompanies and educates almost 4,000 young people every year.
Accompanied by coaches, educators, social workers and Salesians, the 90 beneficiaries of the program not only participate in sports training, but also in orientation sessions, support classes, workshops and extracurricular activities.
Two days a week the school's pupils are involved in three hours of football and basketball training, which also includes a snack. Sport and educational reinforcement complement each other, so that project participants learn study habits, hygiene and healthy eating, as well as the values of companionship and solidarity. During the course, participants experience a positive transformation that translates into integration, development of discipline, punctuality and responsibility.
During the last campaign the activities also served to work with the beneficiaries on anti-bullying and anti-discrimination measures, fostering empathy, understanding and inclusion through the acceptance of differences, whether cultural, racial, religious or individual.
The activities of the Salesian socio-sports school, together with psychological and social support, have managed to improve not only the physical condition of the beneficiaries but also the self-esteem and school results of the children, also benefiting their family environment.
Some of the distinctive features of the Real Madrid Foundation's socio-sports schools are in perfect harmony with the characteristics of Salesian environments, such as joy, respect and solidarity, and all are summarised in the motto with which thousands of children in vulnerable situations around the world benefit from this project: "They play, we educate".
Source: Misiones Salesianas
