Sport Brazil Project #57796

Life skills + Soccer for 350 boys in Brazil

by ASSOCIACAO DE APOIO A CRIANCA EM RISCO - ACER BRASIL

Project Report | Feb 22, 2025
Meeting Coach Matheus del Nobile

By Jonathan Hannay | Project Leader

Coach Matheus

The staff who work with the boys are essential for our project's outcomes and we are happy to share an interview with coach Matheus Del Nobile.

What is your story with ACER and the sports project? How did you get into this field?
"I have a deep affection for ACER because it was where I had my first experience as a futsal coach, my first championship as a coach, and that is something extremely significant for me. Futsal has been a part of my life since childhood, and being able to experience it so profoundly—teaching and learning alongside my students—is truly special. Every moment, every achievement, and even the challenges along the way are filled with love and dedication. I take great pleasure in passing on what I have learned, and seeing the growth of the players is an indescribable reward."

What has changed for you on a professional and personal level?
"I have learned to be more responsible, patient, and reciprocal, and these qualities only grow with every new story I hear and every interaction with my students. Every conversation, every smile, every shared challenge teaches me the importance of being more attentive and present. Daily interactions have shown me that education goes far beyond teaching content; it is also about being there for them in difficult moments, celebrating their victories, understanding their fears and insecurities, and recognising that every interaction presents an opportunity for mutual growth. It’s incredible how, over time, we learn to embrace differences, respect each individual's pace, and give back what we receive in an even more genuine way. With each story we hear and every new perspective that unfolds, we become more complete, more empathetic, and, above all, more human."

What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
"Through dedicated work, we start to see the results in the future—students who attended our classes, put in the effort, absorbed the lessons, and are now building wonderful careers in professional clubs in the region. That fills us with immense pride."

How is your relationship with the other staff members at the organisation?
"I have a friendly, straightforward, and direct relationship with my colleagues. It is a united team that is willing to do whatever it takes."

How do you usually deal with daily challenges?
"I always seek advice from more experienced people to handle difficulties in the best possible way. I know that no one has to face challenges alone, and asking for help is a way of learning and growing. Every piece of advice I receive gives me more clarity and confidence to move forward."

What are the most important values you aim to instil in your students during sports lessons?
"I know that every student has their own pace, and it is natural that, from time to time, they face difficulties. When I notice that someone is feeling unmotivated or going through a tough time, I always try to get closer and understand what is happening—listening to what they have to say or adjusting the training if needed. The most important thing for me is that they know I am there to truly support them and that, even when things seem challenging, together we can overcome any obstacle with patience and dedication."

I am sure that you will agrre with me in saying that the boys are lucky to have such a great coach and we are glad that with your continued support, Matheus can continue to work with them.

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Oct 27, 2024
Presenting our new youth monitor

By Jonathan Hannay | Project Leader

One of the most important aspects of our work with boys and young teenagers who live in very challenging circumstances both at home and the community is the possibility of us providing them with positive role models in order that they can envisage positive futures for themselves being young men who contribute both to their families and to society. We also recognise that children will bond with different adults and so all of our sessions are delived by a team of two - a coach and a youth monitor who is always a high school student who has come up through the project and who, on becoming a youth monitor is contracted as an intern so that not only do they gain a financial scholarship but also a valuable item to put on their curriculum. We have just selected a new youth monitor, Wenderson who I interviewed this week and whose words I share with you now:

"I started doing sports at ACER when I was seven years old and I love futsal, I love watching, playing and also sharing what I know with other children. I want to continue developing so that one day I can become a top level coach with a lot of knowledge to share with others. I started to think about being something more than just a player when I was 13 years old; I saw other teenagers and young people getting opportunities through ACER to become youth monitors and at the beginning of this year when a selection process opened up, I took part; initially I wasn't chosen but I really wanted to be in this new space so I spoke to ACER's general manager, Andressa and asked if I could become a volunteer. That is really how I started to become a youth monitor. My job is to work with the coach doing planning, help give training and to teach the children all the basic skills and how to play. It is a really unique experience for me, the children all have a very good relationship with me and they all call me coach and that is something that makes me incredibly happy. I work with several different classes and age groups - 8 to 10 year olds, 11 to 13 year olds and 14 & 15 year olds. Now that I will be getting the scholarship the relations with my family will change because I will be able to contribute financially and also I will be able to buy things that I need. With all that I am learning now on the job, looking forward to when I graduate from high school, I want to go to university and get a physical education degree so that I can be ever better."

We thank you for your continuing support and hope that you have enjoyed reading this progress update.

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Jun 29, 2024
A new initiative - reaching more boys

By Jonathan Hannay | Project Leader

We are very excited to be able to share with you some great news: this week we have started a new project which will enable us to offer sporting activities to many more boys and also, we hope, establish a model for our city by which the communities around schools will be benefited by access to sports that they currently don't have.

One of the chief characteristics of our community is the density of the population and paucity of public leisure facilities. Our community covers only 3 square miles and yet has a population of 65,000 people (our municipality has the second highest population density in all Brazil) and has 16 public schools, which is important guaranteeing all children access to free education. However we only have one small park with a dirt soccer pitch in the middle and there are a further 3 public hard courts where we currently develop our work. As schools work in shifts of children and teachers, they do not offer any extra curricular activities and children end up spending almost all the time they are not in school at home playing on electronic devices. This brings very negative consequences for their physical health and also for their emotional and mental health which already suffered a lot during the pandemic. Whilst the middle and high schools have 3 shifts of children with classes going from 7 in the moring until 11 at night, the elementary schools, which all have a hard court for PE lessons, only have classes from 7am to 6pm.

One of the elementary schools, EM Fabíola de Lima Goyano, has a hard court which is accessible from the street without having to enter the school buildings and in a conversation with the head teacher we identified an opportunity to create a whole new community facitlity functioning from 6pm to 10pm Monday to Friday and from 8am to 6pm on weekends whereby ACER Brazil would be responsible for managing the court and offering structured activities to the community. From this beginning and with the support of a city councilman after 4 months of negotiations, two weeks ago, we finally got to sign a formal partnership with the city government and as you can see in the photos that accompany this report we are already delivering classes in the eveenings to over 50 new boys who previously had no access to sports. Effectively we have created a brand new community facility without having to have public investment in building and equipment - a goal scored for all!

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