“Future at Stake”: Call for Proposals Launched to Strengthen Sports Workshops in Los Ríos
With the goal of promoting the holistic development of children through sports, the Luksic Foundation has opened applications for the “Futuro en Juego” grant program, through which thirty sports programs in the region can apply for funding of up to $1,000,000 to purchase equipment and uniforms.
Only 26.4% of children and adolescents between the ages of 5 and 17 are considered physically active, according to the latest National Survey on Physical Activity and Sports, and evidence shows that participating in sports plays a fundamental role in children’s development, as it contributes to healthy growth, strengthens motor skills, and promotes emotional well-being.
In this context, the Luksic Foundation launched the “Futuro en Juego” call for proposals on Monday, June 15. The initiative aims to strengthen sports workshops that, in addition to promoting physical activity, contribute to the development of social-emotional skills that are essential to the well-being and future trajectories of children and adolescents.
The initiative, which will remain open until July 6, will support up to 30 teachers who implement extracurricular sports programs in the Los Ríos Region; they will be able to apply for funding of up to $1,000,000 to purchase equipment, —such as balls, nets, mats, stopwatches, and weights—and sports apparel (uniforms, sneakers, and more).
To participate, coaches must conduct workshops for girls and boys in the Los Ríos Region, either at schools, community organizations, or on their own. Applications are submitted via an online form on the website fundacionluksic.cl.
Regarding the purpose of the initiative, Cristián Schalper, Social Programs Manager at the Luksic Foundation, explains that “when a child participates in a sports workshop, they’re not only engaging in physical activity, but in many cases they’re also learning life skills that help them regulate their emotions, tolerate frustration, and adapt to difficult situations.” Along those lines, he added that “these experiences also have concrete effects on their future, such as staying in school, preventing risky behaviors, entering the workforce, and earning higher incomes.”
To help address the challenges that coaches face on a daily basis, the Luksic Foundation will invite the winners to participate in a free online course that will provide tools for incorporating the development of social-emotional skills into sports practice, based on real-life situations and opportunities for collaborative learning among participants.
