Reconcile sports practice and studies to educate more conscientious citizens. This is the purpose of the Sports in Town Project, which since 2010 has provided free sports initiation classes in indoor soccer, volleyball, basketball, handball and field soccer to 500 children and adolescents, aged 7 to 17, from the municipalities of Oriximiná and Terra Santa.
Developed by the Peito Aberto Social Organization and sponsored by MRN through the Federal Sports Incentive Act, the project also has the support of the Esporte Clube Mineração (MEC) and the City Council of Terra Santa. "The goal is to provide an opportunity for the healthy practice of sports, under the guidance of qualified professionals, at no cost for the participants, in addition to focusing on respect, discipline in sports and in studies, socialization and coexistence," says Leonardo Costa Matos Borges, technical coordinator of the Pará division of the project.
Every year, MRN allocates an amount corresponding to 1% of its income tax for this action.
Amplitude - The Sports in the City Project assists 2,390 children and young people from four regions in Brazil (North, Northeast, Southeast and Mid-West) by providing classes of various sports in the cities of Terra Santa and Oriximiná, in Pará State; Belo Horizonte, Brumadinho, Ibirité, Taquaraçu de Minas, Contagem and Sete Lagoas, in Minas Gerais State; Salvador, in Bahia State; and Cuiabá, in Mato Grosso State.
Out of the 500 students assisted in the project in Pará, 300 are from Terra Santa and 200 from Oriximiná, where the communities of Moura and Boa Vista are also served, in addition to the district of Porto Trombetas. "We believe that our partnership is very successful and has made a difference in the lives of thousands of young people in Pará. We are very grateful and hope that our partnership will continue for many years. We are also grateful to be able to provide these children and teenagers with the opportunity to practice healthy sports that are our future," says Leonardo Borges, Sport in Town Coach.
"The project is helping me to have a better performance in physical education, discipline and in my school essays. I made new friends in the project and it became easier to express myself in school and in my social life".
Maria Eduarda de Sousa Bentes, 14, a student of Terra Santa.
"My dream is to play as a right full-back when I grow up and the project encourages me through the sports gymkhanas. Also, I meet new people and I’m learning to have more discipline, respect and
how to act in a cooperative manner when working in groups”.
Kelvin Cauã Almeida dos Santos, 12, a soccer student for 2 years in Porto Trombetas.
"The project is a very important social inclusion tool, not only as a physical activity to improve the quality of life, but also as an initiative to integrate people, unite differences between peoples and cooperate in the process of social inclusion".
Bruno Casoti, Projects and Physical Education Coordinator with the Mineração Esporte Clube