The Colombianitos Foundation was nominated for the "Laureus Sport For Good 2021" the best sports program for development thanks to the project "Jugamos en la mismanagement cancha" (We play on the same pitch) that since 2019 had been promoting gender quality, overcoming stereotypes and roles in girls, boys, families and members of the educational community in Bogotá and the municipalities of Barbosa, Antioquia and Puerto Tejada, Cauca.

The program, financed by Laureus Sport For Good, was developed thanks to a athletic educational curriculum, in which we encouraged the need to eliminate those stereotypes that have limited the free development of girls, teenagers and women, but also men and boys, helping 2,896 minors, teachers and parents.

" With this project we strengthened self-confidence and self awareness of boys, girls and teenagers when they deal with social pressure. We encourage the use of gender inclusive, non violent language , making them understand the importance of eliminating different types of gender violence and teaching new ways to solve conflict basing it on cooperation, empathy, new masculinity and values related to gender equality", explained Gladys Sanmiguel, Executive Director of the Colombianitos Foundation.

Everything before we achieve through our curriculum "Jugamos en la mismanagement Cancha" that uses the power of sports, particularly rugby to break stereotypes and as a tool of social transformation toward schools and homes free of discrimination, inequality and gender violences.

"With the activities based on rugby, we broke gender barriers and we able to get girls to achieve their full potential, at the same time that boys became aware of the importance of respecting other people's dignity, changing the way they form relationships", emphasized Diana Rodriguez, director of the Gender Equality program of the foundation.

The athletic part of the program was developed in physical education classes, through the athletic exercises implemented by the Colombianitos coordinators and the teachers of each educational institution, with a weekly attendance. This was completed with workshops in the classroom during Ethics class, based on the same teachings developed on the field. We also implemented communication spaces to talk to teachers and families.

During the pandemic and based in the original curriculum, we created a virtual one that would respond to the necessities of the context and which with we were able to keep developing our educational objectives but also athletic ones, even at home. This was good because it allowed for families to be more involved in different activities.

" This way we ratify athletics and education as a powerful tool to achieve the goal of gender equality", added Gladys Sanmiguel.

The selection of the nominees was done between 156 countries, now the Colombianitos Foundation will compete with the projects Boxgirls of Kenya, Kickformore of Germany, to take the award "Best athletics program for development".

The award "Laureus Sport For Goods" is a part of the ceremony of the Laureus World Sports Awards, it is the most prestigious prize in the world, and it is given by the Laureus World Academy the best athletes in the world for the achievements during the previous year, as individuals and as a team.

Since 2000 they are given outing the winners are chosen by 68 members of the academy, elite ex athletes of a great amount of prestige. The Laureus awards are made up of seven categories: best athlete of the year (male), best athlete of the year (female), best team of the year, best rookie of the year, best comeback of the year, best handicapped athlete of the year and best athlete of an alternative sport of the year.

Considered the "Oscars" of sports, the award ceremony is done in a gala, developed each year in a different city and is transmitted on TV to more than 190 countries.