In Ecuador, a unique rugby school was created: the “Condors of Monaco”

With H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco’s long-standing passion for sport and rugby, the Foundation’s Sport & Education programme contributes to the well-being and development of children by promoting all types of sports activities.

In 2021, the Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation and the Monégasque Association for Latin America (AMLA) created an important educational structure to reinforce the impact of sport in Ecuador: the “Condors of Monaco” rugby school.

The school is operated by the Huma Rugbu Ecuador program of the Pichincha Rugby Association in the city of Quito. The school’s main objective is to benefit underprivileged children, but its system is intended for anyone who wants to share the universal values of sport and rugby in a spirit of camaraderie and friendship.

Because of the concerns raised by the Covid-19 pandemic, the organizational team developed their activities outdoors and made sure to have constant disinfection of equipment and safety masks for all.

For the school’s first year of existence, 120 boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 14 had the opportunity to practice rugby together, achieving recreational results and significantly improving their quality of life. Additionally, 7 teachers were trained to give rugby classes.

To close out the year on December 7th, a special exhibition match was played at the brand-new stadium of Ecuadorian football club Independiente del Valle. During this match, the children could demonstrate their progress to their parents and showcase all they had learned throughout the year.

Most notably, the children learned the 5 values of rugby (Discipline, Respect, Integrity, Passion, Solidarity) along with the slogan of the Pichincha Rugby Association: “Rugby with an R for Respect”.