Saving Brazil's Youth

Every fan of the global game knows the names of Brazil's best footballers. But too often lost in the search for the country's best are millions of other children whose lives will not be lifted from poverty thanks to the riches of professional contracts. How can soccer help these kids?

Instituto Bola pra Frente (BPF) was born from the dream of Jorginho, a former soccer champion who grew up in the favela Muquiço, a rough slum in the north zone of Rio de Janeiro. The poverty and lack of opportunities are enormous. Many of the children fall into lives of crime with the promises of easy money from the ever-present drug dealers. Having seen many of his childhood friends die, Jorginho wanted that to change, and BPF became his answer.

Bola par Frente uses the fascination of football and the image of renowned athletes to attract children and transform lives. For the organization, football is more than a sport. It is universal and translates human contradictions into a space, a playing field on which everyone is equal and where everyone can learn, grow, and take control of their lives. BPF combines sport education with social and career development to provide dependable futures for the great majority of children who will not find a professional future in soccer. The sport brings them in, but the education propels them to a better future.

"I joined the Institute in 2000 at age 13," Jefferson Paulo Reis da Silva, now 22, says. "I dreamed of being a player hailed by all fans. At 15, however, I signed up with the first group of the “Champion of Citizenship” project. I received many guidelines that helped me to have a great performance at work. I learned to deal with my shyness, and gain knowledge and experience. In 2004, I reached one of my greatest dreams: I entered a university, studying Management of Computer Networks. Today I am employed at a Norwegian company, and I'm almost able to buy my house. I found that I can be what I want; I just need to do my best and grasp the opportunities that appeared in my life."

Read More about Bola Pra Frente at bolaprafrente.org.br