Don Bosco Elk provides socio-sports school for 140 youth

(MissionNewswire) Salesian missionaries with Don Bosco Elk, located in the city of Elk, Poland, operate a socio-sports school thanks to a partnership with Real Madrid Foundation and the Salesian Mission Office in Madrid. More than 140 youth ages 5-17 already participate in the socio-sports school. The school caters to at-risk youth and those who are in Poland as refugees from Ukraine.

A Salesian noted, “Sports activities help children integrate into school and the community. Many of the participants in the socio-sports school have improved their school attendance levels and grades. The practice of educational sport is an opportunity not only to have a healthy life, but also to work on values such as discipline, teamwork, solidarity and empathy.”

The Don Bosco Elk sports school has been operating for a year and has had a positive impact on the youth. They practice soccer and basketball, and they receive training in topics like healthy habits, healthy eating and civic values. Salesians also offer psychological support, food support and legal assistance.

The Salesian added, “Working with an entity as noble and recognizable as the Real Madrid Foundation makes it more viable to have a positive impact on the children that attend the school.”

The partnership between the Salesian Mission Office and the Real Madrid Foundation began in 2010 in a Salesian school in Senegal. Today, the collaboration has 22 projects in 15 countries and serves nearly 4,000 children and youth each season, using educational sport and its values as a catalyst for the social betterment of youth and communities.

Both the Real Madrid Foundation and Salesians are aware that sports are important for social integration and the promotion of values like teamwork, communication, respect and team spirit. As part of the Real Madrid Foundation’s “They play, we educate” program, participants receive nutrition, family and psychological support, regular health checkups, the opportunity to participate in social and educational workshops, gymnastics, crafts, reading, and citizenship activities. Training sessions on topics such as health, hygiene, values, and the prevention of alcohol, tobacco, and drug abuse are also provided.

###

Sources:

ANS Photo (usage permissions and guidelines must be requested from ANS)

ANS – Poland – Real Madrid Foundation and Salesian Missions together for refugee children from Ukraine

Salesian Missions