Fluminense has taken an important step on the use of sport as an education activity for Brazilian justice-involved youth. According to Globo.com, the Superliga team has partnered up with Rio de Janeiro’s State Departments of Education and Sport in order to set up teams and camps that will benefit about 50 girls aged 12 to 18 that are currently serving sentences within the state’s penal system. Olympic champion Emanuel Rego, Fluminense‘s director of Olympic Sports, talked about the importance of the project:
“Fluminense‘s role is to foster youth progress in all domains of society. Partnerships like these teach values such as teamwork, discipline, fighting spirit, and the search for success. I can only wish the best for the students, coaches, and to all who all collaborate for projects like this to become everyday better and better.”
All girls will receive uniforms and volleyball specific material, and camps will be held twice a week. Rio de Janeiro’s Secretary of Education Wagner Victer praised the team’s initiative:
“The access to sports is very important in the process of rehabilitation. The girls who participate in this project will gain an enormous life experience.”
Brazilian federal law dictates that minors who commit crimes can only serve detention time, in special youth education centers, up until they are 18 years old. They then must be released.
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