Furthermore, since 2010, its socio-sporting schools, established in collaboration with the “Fundación Real Madrid”, have been supporting over 4,500 children and young people at risk of social exclusion across 22 centres in 15 countries on three continents. Through sport, these spaces are established as safe environments where education in values, inclusion and holistic development are promoted, opening up real opportunities for the future.
Sport is much more than physical activity. It is an educational tool, a space for encounter and, in many contexts, a gateway to fundamental rights. For this reason, MISIONES SALESIANAS reaffirms its commitment to holistic and universal education based on sport as a driving force for inclusion, development and peace-building. The theme of this year’s International Day of Sport for Development and Peace was: ‘Sport builds bridges and breaks down barriers’, highlighting sport’s unique ability to promote connection, inclusion and peace in an increasingly fragmented world.
In line with this, in June 2010 MISIONES SALESIANAS signed a collaboration agreement with the Real Madrid Foundation to establish social-sport schools in the countries where the Missionary Office carries out its work, alongside the Salesian missionaries and in the service of the most disadvantaged young people.
Promoting values and healthy habits through sport are the fundamental objectives
These spaces not only encourage sporting activity but also promote essential values such as respect, teamwork, equal rights for all and personal development. Through a socio-educational approach, sport becomes a means of supporting vulnerable young people, offering them a safe environment in which to grow. “We don’t just come here to play football; we learn to respect one another and believe in ourselves,” explains one of the young participants at a Salesian socio-sport school.
The socio-sport schools are aimed at young people who, in many cases, face situations of poverty, exclusion or lack of access to education. In this context, sport acts as a motivating factor that encourages regular attendance, learning and the development of social and life skills.
In this way, the project serves as a cornerstone for transforming everyday life, fostering sustainable educational processes tailored to each local context.
In addition to their direct educational impact, these initiatives have a strong protective element: in environments marked by violence, displacement or instability, the social-sport schools run by MISIONES SALESIANAS in partnership with the Real Madrid Foundation offer a safe space where children can grow and develop with their dignity respected; and the close support, characteristic of the Salesian approach, reinforces this process, always placing the individual at the centre.
The social-sports schools provide safe spaces for those who take part
“Sport is the gateway, but what matters is everything that comes after: education, values, healthy habits and support,” observes one of the programme’s educators in Senegal. “We want young people to integrate, use their time appropriately and engage in healthy activities. They play, we educate,” explains Emilio Butragueño, former football star and now director of institutional relations at Real Madrid, outlining the project’s purpose.
Looking to the future, MISIONES SALESIANAS and the Real Madrid Foundation continue to expand this educational model. Following on from Poland and Ukraine, one of the standout new projects is the opening of a social and sports school in Damascus, Syria: a particularly significant initiative in a context marked by years of conflict. This new space will seek to offer young people an alternative for development, coexistence and hope, contributing to the reconstruction of the social fabric from the ground up.
On the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace, MISIONES SALESIANAS has once again highlighted the transformative power of sport as an educational and social tool. A commitment which, with the help of partners such as the Real Madrid Foundation, continues to create opportunities for thousands of children around the world, demonstrating that sport can also be a valuable tool for peacebuilding.
