Location and general information
Access to Sport - 
Gender Equality - 
Healthy lifestyle - 
Personal developmentContext
The city of Seville is home to four of Spain’s ten poorest areas, with 38.6% of children at risk of or already suffering alarming levels of poverty and social exclusion. These areas also have a large migrant population experiencing exclusion and segregation. Inequality and a lack of employment opportunities also have a negative impact on families, and consequently, the education and development of children.
Project goals
- Promote the inclusion, education and well-being of children and young people from migrant and refugee backgrounds and vulnerable communities in Seville
- Help children feel more connected, resilient and involved in their local community
- Reduce children's biases based on gender and cultural differences
- Help schools to incorporate sport for development into their programmes
- Raise awareness and advocate for the inclusion of people in vulnerable situations through sports in schools
Project content
The Spanish Commission for Refugees (CEAR), the Real Betis Foundation and Fútbol Más Spain have joined forces to develop a community-based project promoting the inclusion and well-being of vulnerable migrant and refugee children and their families. Deporte por Refugio is an award-winning social sports programme designed to enhance the physical and mental health of children at risk of social exclusion in three neighbourhoods of Seville. It also aims to raise awareness about the role of health in improving the inclusion of migrants and refugees, and to highlight how football can help to achieve this.
Last year, Deporte por Refugio had a positive impact on the lives of more than 2,000 people and received two national awards: a Rompe el circulo (‘break the cycle’) award from the Spanish High Commissioner against Child Poverty and the Spanish High Council for Sport’s award for best inclusion project. Now in its third year and supported by the UNHCR, UNICEF, the Spanish government and Seville city council, the programme aims to convey to society that football can transform the reality of children and refugees.
Partners
