In partnership with SOL Foundation and Jugend Eine Welt(JEW), BREADS and its Don Bosco partners are promoting brighter futures for youth in Kerala through sports. Partner representatives, Mr. Axel Bernhardt from SOL Foundation, and Mr. Reinhard Heiserer and Mr. Florian Werner from JEW, visited two districts in Kerala—Kottayam and Ernakulam—on 14-15 April 2025 to understand and discuss implementation details.
The Sports for Change project is being initiated in five districts across Kerala: Kasargod, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Idukki, and Kottayam, aiming to train more than 300 children and youth through six Sports Hubs in each district. Additionally, an advanced Sports Hub in Don Bosco Vaduthala, Ernakulam, will provide specialised training across multiple sports disciplines.
The visiting team was accompanied by Fr Joy, Economer of the Bangalore Province, and the BREADS team, comprising Fr George PS (Executive Director), Fr Jitto (Assistant Director), and Mr. Benny (Project Manager).
In Don Bosco Puthupally, the team visited the Sports Hub and three of the Community Sports Hubs, where they interacted with children, observed ongoing activities, and gained valuable insights into the initial implementation of the project. In Don Bosco Vaduthala, the Advanced Sports Hub offers professional coaching in over 12 sports disciplines, positioning it as a model for excellence and high performance in youth sports development. The visitors were impressed by the quality of coaching, infrastructure, and the commitment of the staff.
The team also visited Don Bosco Palluruthy, a shelter home for children from marginalised and vulnerable backgrounds. Here, sports will be used for skill-building as well as for emotional and social rehabilitation. It is a promising step toward empowering children and protecting them from risks such as substance abuse and social exclusion.
The visitors expressed their appreciation for the initiative and the quick groundwork. They acknowledged the potential of the Sports for Change project as a tool to address emerging challenges proactively, creating lasting impact in the lives of youth, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The visit kicks off a positive beginning, reaffirming the collaborative commitment among BREADS, Don Bosco institutions, and funding partners towards creating a safe, healthy, and empowering space for young people through sports.
