JERUSALEM – On Tuesday April 26, 2016, the Real Madrid Foundation and the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem signed an agreement which aims to implement training courses for coaches at Latin Patriarchate schools in hopes of promoting in students the positive values present in sport.

The Real Madrid Foundation defines itself as an instrument by which Real Madrid is present in society and develops its social and cultural awareness programs. Its main objective is to promote, both in Spain as well as abroad, the values inherent in sport, and the latter’s role as an educational tool capable of contributing to the comprehensive development of the personality of those who practice it. In addition, as a means of social integration of those who find themselves suffering from any form of marginalization, as well as to promote and disseminate all the cultural aspects linked to sport.

As part of its outreach project, the Real Madrid Foundation has been helping in areas where there is a risk of social exclusion and conflict. Moreover, they have been working with social sports schools and programs benefiting students from around the world to train coaches in the foundation’s methodology via football and basketball programs. The Foundation has implemented this program in four LPJ schools over the last two years, and as a result of the expansion in the partnership with the Patriarchate; it has decided to expand the program to nine schools In Palestine, Israel and Jordan.  The schools that are part of the new program are:  Beit Jala, Beit Sahour, Jaffa Nazareth, Reineh, Ramallah, Zababdeh, Madaba, and two schools in Gaza.

It is important to recognize the valuable support also received by Fundacion Promocion Social de la Cultura, as a long time benefactor of the LPJ in Spain, and a common partner with the Real Madrid Foundation program.

During their visit to the Holy Land, the foundation has held a 3-day training course for all the LPJ coaches on the Real Madrid program, which took place in the UNRWA facility of Qalandia.  They have also visited the schools of Beit Jala and Beit Sahour where their programs are currently running. Furthermore, the group visited the Latin Seminary in Beit Jala, the LPJ printing press, the school’s administration office for Palestine and Israel, in addition to some humanitarian and social projects of the Patriarchate.

Present at the signing of the agreement from the Latin Patriarchate, His Beatitude Fouad Twal, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem; Most Rev. Bishop William Shomali, Patriarchal Vicar Of Jerusalem and Palestine; Fr. Faisal Hijazin, Director of Latin Patriarchate schools in Palestine and Israel; Fr. Jamal Khader, Rector of Latin Seminary in Beit Jala and Fr. George Ayoub, Chancellor of the Latin Patriarchate.

The Real Madrid foundation was represented by Mr. Julio González Ronco, Managing Director of the Foundation; Mr. Iñigo Arenillas, Manager of Africa & Middle East; Coach David Gil Chapado, Technical Director of football and training,  and Projects Officer Leticia Olavarria. Also present at the signing, Mr. Juan José Escobar Stemmann, Consul General of Spain in Jerusalem, and his vice-consul.

The signing of the agreement represents an important step forward in the expansion of the Real Madrid Foundation Social Sports Schools Program in the Holy Land, and the strengthening of the partnership with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, on its social and educational  mission towards the communities it serves in.

Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem