Created two years ago, Empatia em Quadra already serves around twenty children between 12 and 17 years old in after-school care
An action offering lessons to teenagers aged 12 to 17 in Praia de São Conrado transforms lives and gets the support of a sports brand
On São Conrado beach, the sound of beach tennis balls bouncing on the sand is no longer exclusive to an elite sport. For a group of teenagers in Rio, the court has become a space of learning, belonging and new perspectives. This is because “Empatia em Quadra”, a social project created by a couple of professional sports athletes, has given a new meaning to the practice of sport and democratized its access in the communities of Rocinha and Vidigal, in Rio de Janeiro.
The initiative attracted attention and, on the 27th, the group received the donation of official uniforms, strengthening the group’s identity and broadening the feeling of belonging of each of the young athletes.
Lessons at the Beach Tennis Plaza
Created two years ago, Empatia em Quadra already serves around twenty young people between 12 and 17 years old in after-school care. Lessons take place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, on the net circuit of the plaza beach tennis school, in São Conrado. More than serving and volleying, participants find discipline, self-esteem and social support in sport.
“Our goal is to open avenues, opportunities and keep them away from risky situations. It is also to ensure that many of these children enjoy the beach and, in fact, belong there,” emphasizes professional athlete Luiz Augusto Gimpel, 31. Luiz is the creator of the project together with his wife, fellow athlete and entrepreneur Paula Landau, 33.
How did the project come about?
Empatia em Quadra was born as an extension of a solidarity action by Paula, who distributed hot meals in collaboration with the cooks of the communities of Rocinha and Vidigal. A beach tennis enthusiast and athlete for six years, she sensed the opportunity to transform sport into a tool for social and educational inclusion. To participate, young people must be enrolled in regular education and maintain 100% attendance. As an incentive, each person receives a complete basic food basket to take home each month, as well as snacks, juices and sweets in each classroom.
A regular student of the project, Vitor Hugo Mourão, 15, is already dreaming of bigger things in the sport. “Beach tennis has already changed a lot here, I have improved at home and everyone says that I have more discipline now. Before the project I was abandoned, but they believed and invested in me, so I started to trust more and I think I can go far as an athlete”, projects the student.
At 15, Luiz Gabriel Xavier is also aiming for a future in sport. “Many professional athletes started small, from nothing, just like us here. And the project shows me more and more that, with hard work and dedication, it is possible for me to get there,” he comments.
Support
At the end of September, the group received the official uniforms for the first time, donated by athletes and entrepreneurs of a premium brand from the interior of São Paulo.
“It was what was needed to crown Empatia em Quadra. From now on our boys and girls will train in uniform and, above all, with top quality materials. It seems silly, but it isn’t. In addition to greater playability and less wear, the uniform enhances the project, creates a sense of belonging and also protects our students, because anyone looking from the outside will already know immediately that they are with us”, underlines Paula Landau.
On and off the fields
The project also includes off-court experiences, bringing young people to professional beach tennis championships. It was on one of these occasions that the entrepreneurs of Five Athletic, a brand of premium sports uniforms, became aware of the work and decided to dress the athletes of Empatia em Quadra.
“Sport has given me opportunities in life, also as an entrepreneur. I believe that it can be the light in the lives of these children, adolescents and many people. Our role here is to dress and enhance these little athletes, helping to promote beautiful actions in favor of sport”, underlines Fernando Santarelli, footvolley athlete and co-owner of Five Athletic.
The next step of the Empatia em Quadra project, according to them, will be to increase the number of students served and organize internal competitions, further strengthening the link between sport, education and community. To find out more about the project, visit @esteticaemquadra @beachtennisplaza.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
