FC Barcelona Foundation launches third FutbolNet Festival in Rio de Janeiro

Over 500 children between five and 17 years old participated in the third FutbolNet Festival that the FC Barcelona Foundation launched in Complexo da Maré in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

The festival took place in Villa Olímpica da Maré, the biggest sports complex in the area, where the FutbolNet project takes place on a weekly basis. From 8.00am through to midday on Saturday, the values took centre stage through various mini football tournaments and other activities which taught the children about the philosophy of the Foundation.

Since 2012, the Foundation has successfully implemented this programme which promotes values in the city and has generated interest in local entities. The project, which runs from April to December, involves 360 children between six and 12 years of age in two weekly sessions.

The Foundation aims to teach its methodology to children in risk of social exclusion, wherever they may be located around the world. For this reason the Maré Complex was chosen, as it is one of the poorest areas of Rio de Janeiro, with a population of about 150,000 inhabitants and composed of 16 favelas. The Foundation implements FutbolNet in this area in collaboration with the MAPFRE Foundation, among other local institutions.

FutbolNet is a teaching methodology that aims to educate children and young people through the promotion of positive values derived from the sport.

The project currently reaches 100,000 beneficiaries around the world and is applied in Catalonia, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Qatar and some 30 African nations.