Medellín Social School
Transforming Lives Through Sport
At the Medellín Social School, we have been working since 2023 with children and young people aged 6 to 15, together with their families, to broaden their opportunities for learning, wellbeing and personal development in vulnerable contexts. We currently support more than 110 participants, organised into different groups.
Our work combines sport, educational support, cultural activities, healthcare support and community engagement. Through these tools, we create safe spaces where participants can develop their abilities, strengthen relationships and gain skills that will support them both in and beyond the classroom.
Our purpose is to create opportunities for learning and growth that involve not only children and young people, but also their families and the wider community. Education is the cornerstone of our work and is aligned with SDG 4: Quality Education, which guides our approach across all Xcalibur Foundation projects.
Why do we work in Medellín?
The community we work with lives on the outskirts of Medellín, it faces significant social challenges linked to high levels of poverty, violence and vulnerability. According to the city’s Development Plan, more than one third of the population experiences multidimensional poverty, with communities on the outskirts of the city among those most affected.
Children and young people in the community face numerous risks, including forced recruitment into criminal gangs, sexual exploitation, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, domestic violence, child labour, school dropouts, lack of opportunities for constructive use of leisure time, and depression. These risks create a context that impacts deeply in their mental and physical health, limiting their educational and employment opportunities and perpetuating cycles of poverty and social exclusion.
Therefore, there is the urgent need for comprehensive interventions. Through the Medellín Social School, Xcalibur Foundation has taken on the challenge to help these vulnerable groups face these numerous difficulties. Our objective is to mitigate negative impacts and promote the holistic development of young people through social cohesion tools, using sports, culture, and other community activities.
Workshops, Community, and Sport
Sport is a powerful tool for promoting values and engaging children and young people in the programme. We therefore provide sports training three days a week, tailored to different age groups. These sessions help girls and boys develop essential skills such as discipline, perseverance and teamwork, while encouraging a sense of commitment that extends into other areas of their lives.
We use sport as a social and educational tool that encourages children to learn, collaborate and work as a team. For this reason, our programme also includes cultural activities and educational support, helping participants keep up with their schoolwork, remain motivated to learn and continue developing both as students and as individuals.
We also actively involve families, encouraging them to become agents of change through community activities and social and cultural workshops.
Alongside these activities, participants at the Medellín Social School and their families take part in a healthcare programme that provides medical check-ups and ongoing support from students at the University of San Martín. This initiative forms part of our wider commitment to other Sustainable Development Goals.
Aligning with the 2030 Goals
At the Foundation, we align our activities with several specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to maximise our impact and contribute to a better future. In order not to lose sight of our overall mission, the main SDG that we address in all our programmes is SDG 4: Quality Education. The specific SDGs of the Medellín Social School are the following:
3.5 Strengthen the prevention and treatment of substance abuse, including narcotic drug abuse and harmful use of alcohol.
3.7 By 2030, ensure universal access to sexual and reproductive health-care services, including for family planning, information and education, and the integration of reproductive health into national strategies and programmes.
5.2 Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls in the public and private spheres, including trafficking and sexual and other types of exploitation.
5.5 Ensure women’s full and effective participation and equal opportunities for leadership at all levels of decision-making in political, economic and public life.
10.2 By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.
Who makes the Medellín Social School possible?
Our programme relies heavily on the collaboration of our local partners. We are grateful for the support of Fundación Revel, an organisation that plays a vital role in our socio-sport activities. Fundación Revel provides us with technical assistance through the methodology of the European Football Institute, ensuring the effectiveness and high quality of our activities.
‘The essence of the Medellín Social School is to work with organisations that share the same vision of pursuing the present and future well-being of children, teenagers and youth in Colombia. We share this vision with the Xcalibur Foundation team: working together to develop not only better athletes, but better people’, explains Carlos Salazar, President of Fundación Revel. ‘We can only achieve our goals by working every day with confidence in the team formed by our coaches and social volunteers. We are very proud of their ability to connect with young people and their families’.
Additionally, El Colombiano Foundation, supports the programme in organising community events and activities, significantly contributing to the well-being and development of our participants. Their role as a local communicator connects us with cultural actors within the community, such as the Fundación Ratón de Biblioteca library.
Lastly, we are grateful for the collaboration of the San José Parish, which acts as a unifying force in the community. Through this institution, we engage young people in our programme.
Committed to Change
At Medellín Social School, we are committed to create a positive and lasting impact in the community of Medellín. Through football and values-based education, we work to reduce inequalities, improve health and well-being, and promote gender equality. We believe that every girl and boy deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are dedicated to making this vision a reality.
Join us in this mission and be part of the change we want to see in the world. Together, we can build a better future for the next generation.
