The document describes the "For you if you attend" project run by the Benfica Foundation. The project uses sports like futsal to motivate students to attend school more regularly. Students make an agreement to improve attendance and behavior in exchange for participation in sports activities and use of the Benfica brand. The project aims to increase school engagement, empower students, and promote inclusion through sport. It operates in 6 regions of Portugal and measures attendance, behavior and academic performance.

1. “Para ti, se não faltares!”
“For you, if you attend”
Portuguese case study
RECIPE Conference
Thessaloniki – Greece
3 /10/2016
João Paulo Proença –
jp.proenca@gmail.com

2. 1 – The Benfica Club
Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known
as Benfica, or simply as SLB, is a
Portuguese sports club based in Lisbon.
The club is best known for its professional
football team which plays in Portuguese
football league system

3. 1 – The Benfica Club
Konstantinos Mitroglou

4. 1 – The Benfica Club

5. 2 – The Benfica Foundation
Benfica Foundation was born on 27 Jan 2009. It
started as a dream but quickly became a reality in
everyone’s life.
At a time (2008) when the world was beginning an
economic crisis, Sport Lisbon and Benfica helped those
who most needed. caring out a place for children and
young people at risk or in a situation of exclusion and
social weakness.

6. 2 – The Benfica FoundationProjects

7. 2 – The Benfica FoundationProjects

8. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
6 poles (in clusters of
schools) all across
Portugal

9. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

10. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

11. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
Through sport, such as futsal, the project "Para ti Se não faltares”intends
to motivate students to make a greater effort at school in order to:
‐ Increase the link to school, reducing the tendency of early school
leaving and absenteeism by promoting attendance;
‐ Empower young people, making them the main actors in their decisions
and responsible for their behavior, their attitudes and the social and
personal consequences of their actions;
‐ …
‐ Promote sports and consequently the health and well‐being of young
people, reinforcing the adoption of healthy lifestyles;
‐ Promote social inclusion;
‐ …

12. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
But how does the project work?
The Project strategy is based on the assumption that Benfica
brand has a strong potential to communicate with different
audiences, as well as the strength of its
immediate association with sports.
Believing also that sport is an excellent tool to promote personal
and social skills.

13. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
But how does the project work?

14. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
The Project Operation
At the time of enrollment in the project, the person takes a formal,
written individual commitment - Social Contract –acknowledged by all
stakeholders, family, class teacher and project team. Based on this
commitment the project methodology is developed.
In synthesis:
The merit is rewarded
Attendance and behaviour are exchanged by the ”Benfica brand”
Here
we have
Benfica
it's for
me!
if:

15. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

16. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
In every day life the project at school is defined by weekly activities
through which the established social contract established will be
reinforced.
- sports activities to be selected by the young people according to the
conditions or local objectives
- Activities for personal and social development and promotion of
basic skills.
- Development of language skills including oral and written expression;
development of mathematical skills including logical reasoning;
development of skills in information and communication technologies
(ICT).

17. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

18. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

19. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project

20. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
Conclusions:
Benfica Foundation program allows us to conclude that it is possible to
improve behaviour, results, motivation and to reduce absenteeism and
dropouts through the collaboration with occupational programs in sport
(may be financed by clubs or others) and in workshops where we work on
values, where only students who attend school are allowed to.

21. 3 – The “For you if you attend” project
WHAT WORKS WHERE WHY
- Close partnership
between coaches,
class teachers and
parents.
- Sports (indoor
football), the brand
and popular athletes
as role models to work
on social and
emotional skills.
- In schools/ groups of
students with
behaviour and/or
absence problems.
- Feel rewarded and
recognized (families
too) by experiencing
success in sports,
participating in events,
wearing the brand.