Safe Haven through Rugby
In the ‘Villas’ of Buenos Aires, life is a daily battle against poverty, hunger, and violence. For children growing up here, gang activity, limited education, and unemployment create a cycle of despair that can feel impossible to break. But at the heart of these shantytowns stands Virreyes Rugby Club, a safe haven that offers young people and their families the chance to dream of a better future.
Education
Healthcare
Community
Situation
In a country where over half the population lives in poverty, the need for Virreyes’ work has never been more urgent. Argentina’s economic crisis has pushed families to the brink, with inflation and unemployment leaving millions struggling to survive.
Solution
For the children of the Villas, Virreyes is a refuge, a support system, and a source of hope. Through rugby, meals, healthcare, education, and housing, Virreyes Rugby Club is building a brighter future for those who need it most. Every scrum, every meal, and every act of kindness represents a step toward breaking the cycle of poverty and giving children a chance to thrive. With the support of The Atlas Foundation, the club is not just changing lives – it’s saving them. Virreyes also develops community, builds friendships, and shows children that they are stronger together, that they matter, and that they are worthy of brighter tomorrows.
Testimonials
”This type of participation strengthens community bonds in neighbourhoods with high levels of social and economic vulnerability”
”Over the years, the club has provided me with the tools I needed to grow and secure stable and safe employment. It also encouraged me to enroll in university and gave me the chance to be, hopefully in a few years, the first professional in my family.”
”I still carry with me the values, love, and above all, the great sense of belonging that my beloved Virreyes gave me. I’m part of a club and a beautiful family. A relationship that will never end!”
- Break the cycle of poverty by giving children a chance to thrive through sport, food and kindness.
- Developing community through rugby to build friendships and show children that they are stronger together and that they matter.
- Provide cooked meals, access to healthcare and support for education and employment.
- Sponsoring rugby coaches, counsellors and teachers.
- Sponsoring coaching an in-house doctor and funding crucial medical examinations (covering lab/X-ray/ECG).
- In 2022, 122 visits were made between March and December to a total of 26 schools in the Virreyes area to introduce the rugby club to the pupils.
- Funding different meals every day (breakfast/snack) and lunch (on saturdays). As well as providing milk, bread etc. for players to take to their homes.
Impact
Education
Virreyes Rugby Club uses rugby not just as a sport, but as a powerful tool for transformation. The club creates a safe space where children and teenagers can learn discipline, teamwork, and resilience. These values are more than skills—they are lifelines that empower kids to escape the cycles of hardship that surround them.
Healthcare
Over 125,000 meals were cooked, prepared, and delivered during the height of the pandemic, ensuring families didn’t go hungry. Thousands more in the community have been touched by the club’s wider support, from food rations to healthcare initiatives
Community
Since 2018, Virreyes Rugby Club has expanded its reach, working with 6 rugby clubs and 20 schools across the suburbs of Buenos Aires. As a result, 800 children have been directly impacted, finding hope and purpose on the rugby field.
HELP US TO KEEP VIRREYES RUGBY CLUB RUNNING
Stories from Virreyes
Tiziano’s story
Extreme poverty, unemployment, and problems with addiction in the community make life difficult for Tiziano. With the help of Virreyes Rugby Club, and the support of his community, things are beginning to look up for Tiziano, and he now is able to see a way towards for a better future.
Nico’s Story
From shanty towns in Buenos Aires, to hot meals and hope; The Atlas Foundation is giving Nico a chance to thrive in Argentina through education and health check-ups