The sports and social training program developed in Betim has just achieved another important recognition. Two athletes participating in a grassroots project carried out in the municipality were called up to join the Minas Gerais Under-19 Beach Volleyball Team, according to a list released on Thursday (29) by the Minas Gerais Volleyball Federation.

Laura Fernandes and Isabela Magalhães have built a history marked by discipline, consistency in training, and technical evolution. The athletes are part of the Viva o Esporte (Long Live Sports) program, an initiative that combines sports practice, technical support, and citizenship training, the result of a partnership between the Ramacrisna Institute and the municipal government.

The call-up for the state team reflects a continuous process of preparation. Throughout the year, the pair participated in intensive training and competitions that contributed to the players’ sporting maturity, and they are now ready to compete in the main tournament representing Minas Gerais.

In addition to the athletes, Professor Giuliano Sucupira, responsible for preparing the pair for the project, was also called up to join the technical committee of the Minas Gerais team. The coach’s presence reinforces the quality of the work developed at the grassroots level and the consistency of the technical support offered to young athletes.

For the vice president of the Ramacrisna Institute, Solange Bottaro, the result goes beyond athletic performance. “When a young person makes it to a state team, we are talking about opportunities that expand. Sport is a powerful instrument of social transformation, which develops values, strengthens self-esteem, and opens paths to the future,” she points out.

The Viva o Esporte program serves hundreds of children and adolescents in Betim and is based on the premise of using sport as a tool for social inclusion, human development, and talent discovery. The selection of athletes for the Minas Gerais team reaffirms the positive impact of the initiative and the role of sport in building new possibilities for young people. Also include the comments of coach Juliano Sucupira, who has been training the athletes throughout this year.