Whether through social projects it develops or those it supports, the platform STREETOPIA has always valued and given voice to inclusive and transformative initiatives in needy communities involving or somehow connected to sports.
Sports activities are essential to improve motor and cognitive performances, and when conditioned to education, for example, they provide considerable positive changes in the youth's behavior, such as self-esteem, and contribute to school performance, in addition to showing a new social horizon to young people.
During one of the weekends of ABERTO STREETOPIA SÃO PAULO, we had the pleasure of meeting Leonardo Souza, athlete of the MVP team, and learn how his passion for basketball was responsible for the creation of the 'Jóias do Futuro Institute', which seeks, through basketball, to rescue street children and offer them a dignified life, as well as finding and perfectioning new talents.
Much like Esquadra, a STREETOPIA social project devoted to the renovation of basketball courts, the ‘Jóias do Futuro Institute' also works to identify, renew and repair deteriorated courts on the outskirts of the metropolitan region of São Paulo and deliver them ready for use.
Léo shared with us the obstacles and difficulties he’s been facing to continue saving lives through this great initiative, and this is exactly the aspect that most motivates him to go on: “I see that through small attitudes we can change the social reality of so many children. Through the renovation of the Billysta court, for example, we noticed that it is much more than just basketball, children change their posture, start to socialize more, stop being unhappy and become more educated and respectful children. If we were to somehow abandon the project, these children would remain on the streets, where crime haunts the reality of needy communities. Seeing that we are rescuing them from this possible negative reality, we are in fact changing their perspective on life, and this gives us the strength to remain firm and focused. I want to be a role model for these children through the project and as an athlete, showing that people like them, who came from the same place as them, can make it and fulfill their dreams. All you have to do is follow the path of good and respect life’s chronology...”
Learn more about 'Jóias do Futuro Institute' at www.instagram.com/inst.joiasdofuturo
