(ANS – Santo Domingo) - The Executive of Salesian Missions of Madrid and the Real Madrid Foundation, in collaboration with the Spanish Agency of international cooperation for development (AECID) and the Salesian Province of the Antilles, inaugurated yesterday, September 27, their first two socio-sporting schools in Dominican Republic: the "Don Bosco" Educational Plaza, Hainamosa, and "Dominic Savio School House", in Santo Domingo.

The official ceremony was held in the premises of the "Dominic Savio" School, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Dominican Republic's Sports Minister; Jaime Lacadena Higuera, Spain's Ambassador in the Dominican Republic; Fr Víctor Pichardo, Salesian Antillean Provincial; Fr Agustín Pacheco, Director of Madrid's Mission; and Emilio Butragueño, famous player of Real Madrid and currently Director of institutional relations of Real Madrid CF.

The purpose of these two new schools, which initially will receive 200 young people, is to use football as a tool for social integration and thus improve the quality of life of boys and girls who are at risk of social exclusion. Alongside the sports, schools provide various support services to children and their families, such as tutoring, school homework classrooms, vocational training – for those at the suitable age -appropriate health care, nutrition, education on values and cultural and recreational activities. "We want young people to be integrated and develop healthy activities. They play, we educate, "said Emilio Butragueño, explaining the importance of the initiative.

The cooperation between Executive and the missionary Real Madrid Foundation is well underway and allows over 2,000 youth and vulnerable children to participate in similar programs today. There are currently 13 operational socio-sporting schools in 9 countries: Togo, Benin, Congo, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Brazil, Portugal, Senegal and now Dominican Republic.

Published 28/09/2012