Rio Aquatics invests in sports and education to transform the lives of young people
The initiative includes children between 5 and 12 years old in swimming and water polo classes; Selected athletes also receive free English classes and full scholarships to private schools
Anyone who plays sports knows that an exercise routine develops skills that go far beyond physical performance. Discipline, respect and determination are some of the skills acquired that make all the difference when it comes to overcoming challenges. It was this experience that changed Juliana Kagami’s life and that is what she would like to provide to other young people through the Instituto Rio Aquatics Institute (Rio Aquatics Institute).
“I got into swimming because my mother needed a safe place for me to stay during school breaks. But what the sport provided was more than a safe place. In swimming I found a community that welcomed and educated me. I learned a lot, I managed to develop values that I carry to this day, ethics that have accompanied me since I was a child”, says the institute manager.
Since the institute was founded in 2022, more than 1,700 children have taken swimming and water polo classes at Rio Aquatics. Classes are free and children receive a t-shirt, cap and swimming goggles, as well as a snack after training. This year, some athletes with excellent performance went through a selection process and also began to receive English and full study scholarships at private schools in Rio de Janeiro.
“The Institute emerged with this mission of creating opportunities. We want to promote the social advancement of young people in vulnerable situations through the alliance between sports and education”, says Juliana.
Swimming champion
Juliana Kagami has plenty of experience to bet on this alliance. The athlete from Presidente Prudente was a national swimming champion and competed for big clubs in Brazil, such as Corinthians, Sesi and Flamengo. It was thanks to an athletic scholarship that she graduated with a degree in economics and cultural studies from St Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. She then completed a master’s degree in education from Harvard University.
“Reconciling my education with the sports calendar was very difficult. I went to high school while competing for Corinthians. In 3 years, I studied at 4 different schools and in the last year I studied at night, because I trained in the morning and afternoon. When I finished, I was afraid to take the entrance exam, I knew that high school had been a mess. But I found an alternative way to go to college through swimming”, she recalls.
The idea of offering English scholarships to Rio Aquatics’ most committed athletes was implemented with this in mind. The intention is to provide conditions for young people to seek sports scholarships abroad in the future. “When I went to college in the United States, I didn’t know how to speak English and it was very difficult. I don’t recommend going like that, without understanding anything, but in the end that was what worked for me.”
Sports and education
To participate in the project, children must be previously enrolled in regular schools. Classes last 50 minutes and take place twice a week. Children also participate in two sports festivals a year. “It’s a very special moment, both for the children who consolidate their learning, but also for the families, who understand how important this has been in the child’s development”, comments Juliana.
The classes have yielded results. There are two competitive teams, both swimming and water polo, that are already competing in federated championships. “Our under fourteen girls water polo team was runner-up in the state. All these girls learned to swim here”, the manager is proud. Participation in the championships is also all covered by the project, from transportation to accommodation and food.
Instituto Rio Aquatics (Rio Aquatics Institute)
The Rio Aquatics Institute was founded by the Fundação Behring (Behring Foundation) and today is an autonomous institution that operates through donations and fundraising. Therefore, partnerships have been fundamental. Swimming and water polo classes are held in two units: at the Parque Aquático Júlio Delamare (Júlio Delamare Water Park), in the Maracanã stadium, through an agreement with the government of the state of Rio de Janeiro. And at the Vasco club, which rents the pool and forms a bridge between the community and the project.
English classes are carried out in partnership with the english school Wizard, located in the São Cristóvão neighborhood, and take place within the sports units. “Teachers come to us to facilitate these logistics”, explains Juliana. In addition, scholarships at private schools are offered by Pensi and Colégio Elite, schools located in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro, and cover all costs of tuition, teaching materials, uniform and transportation.
In total, 10 English scholarships and 5 full scholarships to private schools have already been offered. These scholarships are not cumulative. “This was the first year that we offered these scholarships, so the idea is that this number will really expand so that we can support more and more children in this educational aspect as well”, warns Juliana.
“We know that education promotes social advancement. And I wondered, if I could fix one problem in the world, what would it be? Having had the experience of studying and training swimming, I thought we could combine the two. It’s not simple, but it’s one of the things we can move forward with a little bit”, she says.
Want to support this cause?
To find out more about the Instituto Rio Aquatics, follow them on social media through Instagram. Further information can be requested by email: admin@rioaquatics.org.
