The Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust is supporting the work of the Atlas Foundation using rugby to help lift children out of poverty in Argentina.
The Trust, which aims to support worthy causes and development of rugby for all ages throughout the world, has made a grant of £10,000 to Atlas to support their work in Buenos Aires and Salta.
Argentina players Patricio Albacete and Marcelo Loffreda last month launched the project working with four clubs in Buenos Aires — Hurling, Retiro, Curupayti and Virreyes — to reach local schools and surrounding neighbourhoods.
Another Pumas player, Juan ‘Chipi’ Figallo, champions the project in Salta, where Atlas is working with 13 local communities.
The Barbarians trustees include some of rugby’s foremost former players and administrators: Micky Steele-Bodger, John Spencer, Bill Beaumont, Gerald Davies and Gareth Hastings.
Barbarian FC Chairman Spencer said: “We’ve seen at first hand the work the Atlas Foundation carries out overseas in helping children in some of the world’s poorest communities.
“The Atlas programmes engage and develop children, helping them succeed in education, in gaining employment and in lifting them out of poverty. We’re delighted to be able to make a grant to the Foundation, particularly one that will make a positive impact in Argentina.”
Atlas Foundation CEO Sally Pettipher said: “We’re hugely grateful to the Barbarians Trust. This grant will allow us to work with eight schools — that’s 800 kids — for two years. Taking on the values of the game and access to the Rugby Family gives them a genuine lift up in life.”
The Atlas Foundation was brought into being by England’s most-capped men’s player Jason Leonard to improve the lives of the poorest people on earth through the power of rugby and its values. It now works with 20,000 children through 20 projects in 15 countries.
Former England, Barbarians and Leicester Tigers fly half Les Cusworth champions Atlas’s All Schools programme in Argentina.
Typically children from the poorest slums and shantytowns receive food, education and training, along with the joy of playing rugby.
As a result, they learn more, stay away from drugs and delinquency and go on to become young leaders within their communities.
Click here for more information about the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust