In June 2016 I moved to Rio De Janeiro for nine months to improve my knowledge of the language and culture whilst playing squash. Whilst I was there, I was introduced to a terrifying reality: between seven and eight MILLION children aged between five and eighteen live and work on the streets of urban Brazil. Many of Brazil's youth are condemned to secure the futures of both themselves and their families through entering gangs, dealing drugs and partaking in various weapon crimes. The biggest killer of the Brazillian children of today is murder due to drug gangs and other such organisations.

My life has always been heavily integrated in squash. My father, Danny Lee, has been playing squash since he was a child. He then took up the sport professionally before settling into coaching as he got older. My siblings play all over the world and I too have experience in competition and coaching. I have found squash to be an excellent way of meeting new people, seeing new places and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle.

My vision for this project is to help the children of Rio take a step toward or a more active, social and safe future. Squash will allow these children to participate in a friendly environment and give them a hobby. Our squash lesson will give these children clear goals to work towards and direct their energy and enthusiasm away from the dangers of the streets and into something positive. Teaching these underprivileged youths a universally spoken language will open more doors and opportunities for their futures to be something greater than just another murder statistic.

Our Plan:

We are aiming to begin with a concentrated group of 20 children, who will have an English lesson at the Rio Squash Club followed by nutritionally beneficial and socially stimulating lunch. Following this lunch, they will then receive a forty minute squash lesson from Roni Duarte (formerly Brazil's number two ranking squash player). We aim to provide two or three sessions a week. Your kind contribution will go toward not just squash equipment and healthy food, but Metro and other travel fares as well as books, stationary and other academic supplies.

Here is evidence of a similar plan working to great lengths in Columbia - please, if you have money spare donate to their cause also. http://www.nationalurbansquash.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Squash-Urbano-Colombia-Brochure-English.pdf

Thank you for your time and (hopefully!) a small contribution.