At the ALALAY Foundation, we strengthen our Social Sports Schools through international training sessions on soccer and values organized by the Real Madrid Foundation
At the ALALAY Foundation, we strengthen our Social Sports Schools through international training sessions on soccer and values organized by the Real Madrid Foundation At the ALALAY Foundation, we work to promote the holistic development of children and adolescents through sports and values-based education. In Bolivia, we currently run nine Social Sports Schools, an initiative made possible thanks to the support of Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz, SOBOCE, CAF, and TIGO—strategic partners who help create development opportunities and safe spaces for children and adolescents at social risk. In this context, our National Coordinator of Social Sports Schools, Manuel León, and the Coordinator of Social Sports Schools in Santa Cruz, Javier Montero, participated in the Soccer and Values Training Workshop organized by the Real Madrid Foundation in Madrid, Spain. This event brought together coaches and educators from various social sports projects across the Americas with the goal of exchanging experiences and building capacity in the use of sports as an educational tool. Training in Sociolinguistic Methodology Over the course of four days, participants delved into the socio-sports methodology promoted by the Real Madrid Foundation, which focuses on values education, participation, respect, and learning as the pillars of the educational process. This experience helps strengthen the Prevention Program we run at the ALALAY Foundation. Through our Social Sports Schools, we promote sports as a tool that fosters social inclusion, personal development, and the creation of life plans for vulnerable children and adolescents. Exchange and Strengthening of Educational Work The conference also provided an opportunity to share best practices with representatives from different countries in the region and to reflect on the challenges faced by social sports programs in each context. These insights provide new tools to continue strengthening our schools and the educational work we carry out with children and adolescents. Gratitude and Commitment On behalf of the ALALAY Foundation, we would like to express our gratitude to the Real Madrid Foundation for the invitation and for promoting these opportunities for training and exchange, which strengthen the work of educators and community sports coaches. Our team’s participation reaffirms our commitment to ongoing training and the continuous improvement of our efforts, with the goal of continuing to support children and adolescents as they build a future with greater opportunities, dignity, and hope.
We amplify the voices of children and adolescents and strengthen their representation at the national level
We amplify the voices of children and adolescents and strengthen their representation at the national level At the ALALAY Foundation, we experienced three deeply meaningful days for the participation of children and adolescents in Bolivia. On February 24, we participated in the Sectoral Roundtable on Children and Adolescents, organized by the Ministry of Development Planning, as part of the development of the PDES 2026–2030 and the PGDES 2026–2035. For us, this was a pivotal moment: we supported children and adolescents so that their experiences, proposals, and demands could be incorporated into the country’s development planning. We are filled with pride by the participation of María and Adriano, representatives of our Street Program, who took on this role with commitment and responsibility. Their proposals addressed urgent issues such as child labor, homelessness, and the need for more inclusive public policies. Through their voices, many other children and adolescents were able to be heard. Listen to their testimonies at the following link: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1buKvcUi7T/ On February 25 and 26, the Plurinational Children and Adolescents Committee held a meeting that brought together representatives from the country’s nine departments. As ALALAY, we supported the organization of the event and led the support efforts for the Outgoing Committee (2023–2025), which presented the progress, challenges, and lessons learned during its term, thereby strengthening transparency and accountability. At the same time, the new Incoming Committee for 2026–2027 began its training process to assume its role as national representatives, facilitated by the organization Act2gether Bolivia. The process culminated in the democratic election of the new 2026–2027 Plurinational Children and Adolescents Committee through a secret, free, and informed vote, followed by the inauguration ceremony marking the beginning of a new era of leadership and representation. During this ceremony, we received an award from the Senate of the Plurinational State of Bolivia in recognition of our work promoting and defending the rights of children and adolescents and for our contribution to strengthening participatory spaces such as the Plurinational Committee. The award was presented to our Executive Director, Claudia Gonzáles, by the Director of Equal Opportunity, Durby Andrea Blanco. We firmly believe that when children and adolescents participate, democracy is strengthened. We continue working to ensure that their voices are heard, respected, and taken into account in the development of public policies in Bolivia.
We are now accepting registrations for 2026 for our Community Sports Schools
We are now accepting registrations for 2026 for our Community Sports Schools At the ALALAY Foundation, we’re kicking off a new initiative by opening free registration for our Social Sports Schools (ESD), supported by the Prevention Program. Using the Real Madrid Foundation’s methodology, we integrate sports and values education for girls, boys, and adolescents at social risk. In 2026, we have set ourselves a challenge: to reach 2,000 participants per school. Today, we have nine Social Sports Schools in seven municipalities across the country, consolidating a model that uses soccer as a tool for holistic development and aiming to reach 18,000 children and adolescents in Bolivia. We want to help make dreams come true for girls, boys, and teens. For us, soccer is much more than just a sport; it’s a gateway that allows us to connect with children and teens and invite them into safer spaces. Beyond the game itself, we want every girl, boy, and teen to find a place where they can grow with dignity, strengthen their voice, and discover new possibilities for their future. Manuel León National Coordinator of the Prevention Program Fourteen Years of Creating Opportunities In June 2026, our Social Sports Schools will celebrate 14 years of operation. This journey reaffirms our belief that investing in children and adolescents means investing in a more just and compassionate society. This effort is made possible by the commitment of strategic partners such as Banco Mercantil Santa Cruz, SOBOCE, Tigo, and CAF, who share our vision of purpose-driven social transformation. We continue working to ensure that sports are much more than just a game: they are a real opportunity for change.