A hundred children aged between 7 and 14
in the Guararí de Heredia community are now thrilled to get up early on
Saturday mornings. Because that’s the day set aside for their favourite sport:
football.

This year, thanks to the support of Globalvia
Ruta 27, the concessionaire for the San José Caldera road, and the Latina
University, the Real Madrid Foundation’s social sports school is increasing its
number of young students for its second year of operations in Costa Rica.

In 2014 the Lumber of students has risen
from 60 to 100: “”Globalvia
is a company that is committed to sustainable development wherever the company
is present. We are concerned about the environment, our human resources and our
social milieu. We develop social-responsibility programmes as part of our
working philosophy in all the countries where we operate, and Costa Rica is no
exception””, Pablo Anguita, Globalvia’s Motorways
Director for Latin America, said.

“”Globalvia Ruta 27 aims to support
community development and we found ourselves with the opportunity to help
children through sport. We didn’t think twice about getting involved in the
project to achieve a change in these kids’ lives””, Gastón Orostegui,  Ruta 27’s Managing Director,
said.

The official programme for 2014 was
launched on 25 March, with the participation of Emilio Butragueño, Real
Madrid’s Institutional Relations and one of the club’s best-known former
players: “”We
are very satisfied to be able to count on the partnership of Ruta 27 for the
next three years, thereby assuring the sustainability, progress and
strengthening of the activities at our social sports school in Costa Rica.

“”The school was opened in February 2013 by
the Latina University in Costa Rica, with excellent results in terms of looking
after children and teenagers in the most vulnerable areas of Heredia, ensuring
that these boys and girl receive a basic education based on such values as
overcoming obstacles, team work and respect.””

The school is based at the Latina University’s
sports facilities in Heredia, attracting children from the Guararí community. The
requirement to be able to join the project is for the children to perform well
at school. “”Through
sport we aim to instil in these children such values as discipline, commitment
and responsibility,”” Clotilde Fonseca, vice-chancellor of Latina University,
added. “”We represent an opportunity for families in socioeconomic
difficulties and we aim to provide a secure environment where these children
can develop their abilities.””.

Although the school is sports-based, the
programme is integrated in such a way that the students’ families can take
advantages of tools such as legal and financial advice and psychological and
dental care, among other services.

The Real Madrid Foundation schools
function with the same goal of fostering values, developing leadership and
empowering children and their families to achieve their dreams, goals and
targets.

Eight coaches train the children at the Heredia
campus every Saturday between 8 and 11 a.m. All the necessary kit and equipment
is provided, as well as breakfast for the children.

Throughout the year, matches are
arranged with football academies so that the children from the Real Madrid Foundation
can show off their skills.