By Min Merritt

After hearing about a foundation in Colombia that uses Rugby as a tool to help young people from Oriente, a deprived part of the Cali, a team of Elk Valley Bulls headed out to learn more about the project. Nine representatives from the Bulls, based in Fernie, BC, were welcomed off the plane by students and adults from the Ser Para Ser Foundation.

This foundation is headed up by Andrew Silva, a recently retired Rugby player from Oriente. Andrew chose to add Rugby to the program because the core values of the sport are so closely aligned with the foundation. He named the Rugby team Tribu (tribe) and it is made up of high schoolers from Orientale (the Valientes) and students from the much more affluent Javeriana University in Cali. The opportunity for young people from very different lifestyles to learn and develop lasting friendships with each other is highly valued. Andrew explained in more detail.

“At the Fundación Ser para Ser, we decided to launch the Tribu Program with Rugby due to my personal experience and the positive influence of sports in my life. Since I was young, my mom always encouraged me to practice team sports, and although I played many, I discovered Rugby when I was 20 years old. This sport amazed me because it builds community and social fabric. It doesn’t matter where you come from or if you have resources; the team becomes an essential part of your life,” said Andrew Silva.

“Fostering the creation of a strong social fabric and a true family.”

“Moreover, the values you share with your team in Rugby are lived both on and off the field. The Universidad Javeriana de Cali gave us the opportunity to coordinate the university team, and it was there that I saw the chance for the youth in our programs to be part of Tribu and live the values of respect, responsibility, and honor, and to create social fabric with other young people who have different realities.

“Additionally, Rugby provides the possibility for the young Valientes to channel all their energy safely, fostering the creation of a strong social fabric and a true family.”

Members of the Elk Valley Bulls Rugby Team (Adriana, Johnny and Tomas Pumphrey, Pete Dudman, Jessie Watson, Mia Foskin, Rollo Rioton LaFron, and Min and John Merritt) were invited to play, coach and referee alongside the Tribu team. This culminated in a Rugby festival at the end of the week.

“It is a reminder that Rugby is so much more than just a game.”

Min Merritt, president of the Elk Valley Bulls said: “We are so grateful to Andrew and his incredible team at the foundation for their hospitality. It has been a truly humbling experience to witness how Rugby is being used to improve lives. It is a reminder that Rugby is so much more than just a game.”

When asked how Rugby had impacted his life, Luis, a Valiente in the Tribu Rugby team said: “It has taught me to channel all the emotions I have through sport. It has taught me to apply respect, solidarity, camaraderie in Rugby and also in life. Rugby has also changed my life on an emotional level. I am a person who previously loved sports but had left it for other things. Returning to sport has made me open my feelings to express myself better. One last thing, Rugby has made me cry (which anyone could say is bad) because when you love something you always try to give more but when you feel like you haven’t given everything, you suffer. Rugby has taught me not to give up and to continue giving everything. That means love for me.”

If you would like to find out more about this incredible program, please contact the Elk Valley Rugby Club at www.elkvalleyrfc.com 

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