Sport changes lives. Knowing this, many athletes invest their time and money in creating non-profit institutes to offer other people an opportunity like the one they had in the past. Discover some examples of social sports projects founded by former athletes.

Face Institute

The Brazilian marathon record holder, Adriana Silva, founded the Enfrente Institute to encourage children, from 8 years old, to experience running, a sport that changed her life when she was 12 years old and started practicing it in Cruzeiro (SP). Currently, the institution serves children at Ceu Paraisópolis, in São Paulo (SP), with athletics classes on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Gol de Letra Foundation

Four-time world football champions Raí and Leonardo created the Gol de Letra Foundation in December 1998, with the aim of offering more opportunities for children and young people in communities, using sport as an instrument of transformation. In these more than 20 years, the project has served more than 20 thousand children and young people.

Guga Kuerten Institute

Founded in 2000, the Guga Kuerten Institute serves children, adolescents, and people with disabilities. One of the main projects is the Champions of Life program, which aims to develop young people in vulnerable situations through education and sport. 400 children and adolescents are served in 5 centers in Santa Catarina, in addition to 20 PWDs. At Coepad (Cooperative of Parents and Friends of People with Disabilities).

Neymar Jr Institute

With an area of ​​8,400 m2, the institution is located in Jardim da Glória, in Praia Grande (SP), where Neymar Jr. lived with his family as a child, and has the capacity to serve 3,000 children and adolescents. To participate in the project, you must be between 7 and 17 years old. Study in 1 of the 7 partner municipal schools with school attendance above 60%. And have a per capita family income of less than the minimum wage.

Instituto Reação

Judoka Flávio Canto, bronze in Athens in 2004, founded the Instituto Reação, another institution that deserves to be among the examples of outstanding social sports projects. Around 3,500 children and adolescents over the age of 4 are served in 7 centers spread across Rio de Janeiro, Mato Grosso. Rio Grande do Norte, and Minas Gerais. Among the athletes trained by Instituto Reação is Olympic champion Rafaela Silva.