Fundación River Plate and BBVA held a new virtual edition of the Trainer School to share experiences and discuss the importance of neighborhood clubs. This first edition featured panelists Juan Gauna, Coordinator of the Unión de Clubes Parroquiales; Mónica Santino, coach and co-founder of “La Nuestra,” a feminist soccer initiative; Daniel Fernández, creator of Pumpas XV, the first inclusive rugby team; and was hosted by Lucía de la Vega, Executive Director of Fundación River Plate.
The goal of these sessions is to train those who train others and to promote social integration by educating sports and social leaders who face the daily challenge of motivating and mentoring children, youth, and adults.
At the opening, Lucía de la Vega mentioned: “For us, this space is very important because at Fundación, we believe that sports play a significant role in integration and inclusion. That’s why it’s essential to discuss the potential sports have to bring society together.”
Juan Gauna, for his part, explained, “Sport is a right, and play is a right. In neighborhoods, we believe that ensuring the right to play is the first tool for inclusion within our possibilities. By creating opportunities, we make it possible for the club to become a home, a family, and a place of belonging in many areas where these are lacking.”
Mónica added, “Sports offer the possibility of leveling the playing field. When you step onto a soccer field, differences start to disappear because it becomes a way to communicate. In Barrio 31, we created this opportunity for girls, teenage women, and adult women to play soccer. What happens in neighborhoods is that women adopt adult responsibilities at a very young age, such as domestic chores or caring for siblings, leaving no room for play. Our work started there, by creating a space for play and valuing group dynamics, as soccer teaches you cooperation first—you can’t move forward on the field alone.”
Daniel Fernández added, “Sports, in this case rugby, are a way to have fun, connect, and learn. Just as we talk about rugby and its values, those values are universal and apply to all areas of life. Since we have the opportunity to reach many families through sports, we aim to help change their realities. People with disabilities often go somewhere and are seen as a diagnosis rather than as individuals. They are treated based on their disability, but the truth is they are people who should be supported to reach their best version of themselves. Sports allow us to reach many individuals and their families because sports are not just about the athletes but also about the family. For people with disabilities, family support is especially important.”
Lucía de la Vega concluded, “These gatherings are about strengthening neighborhood organizations and clubs that work with sports. Today, something very important was mentioned: minimizing the ‘I’ to strengthen the ‘we.’ Fundación River operates based on values, which is what brings us together. We realize there are many of us working toward this and ensuring it lasts over time. We also discussed public-private partnerships. Today, BBVA is supporting us, enabling us to carry this forward. Together, we work to create initiatives that strengthen civil associations and social organizations.”
Full episode available at: https://youtu.be/DufallcSNNw
