Uniting through Football: Socio-Sports Tournament Celebrates Positive Attitudes and Values in Guimarães, Portugal

In Guimarães, Portugal, the Alma Branca socio-sports school of the Real Madrid Foundation recently hosted a socio-educational tournament for its beneficiaries. The event brought together children from various socio-sports schools in the region, including Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Barreiro and Gondar schools.

The tournament’s primary goal was to encourage social interaction among the children and provide an opportunity to practice their football skills while reinforcing the values they have learned during training sessions. Children were rewarded for displaying good behavior during the activities, emphasizing the importance of positive attitudes and values over sporting results.

The Guimarães socio-sports school serves children aged 5 to 12 from families facing socio-economic challenges, at risk of social exclusion or with parents unable to provide adequate care due to work schedules. Since its inception in 2015, the school has offered a range of activities such as snacks, annual medical examinations, IT and English classes, tutoring, socialization activities and healthy leisure throughout the year. Recently, thanks to an extended collaboration with the UPS Foundation, the school has received support for sustainability and aims to continue providing valuable opportunities for its students. The final tournament is scheduled for June and will involve a large number of children and their families, providing opportunities to share experiences and cultures with one another.