Our actions, without a doubt, define us, and that is why it is feasible to affirm that the Cerdanyola Women's Basketball Club is overflowing with good people. Because? Because for three years, and despite being a modest entity, it has been providing scholarships to girls who come from economically disadvantaged family backgrounds so that they can integrate and enjoy sports, like their classmates do. This year they have just over 30, quite a challenge. And the cost is not negligible.
“It's something that I don't think is done much,” explains Jordi Mestre to La Vanguardia, president of the club and promoter of the idea. "At least I am not aware of other clubs or even other entities, of whatever nature, that carry out any initiative of this type."
He says that when he became president of the entity, he asked himself how it was possible that they did not have, for example, black girls. And it didn't take long for him to find the answer: the fee paid to play basketball, or any other sport, is not affordable for all families. “Entities, to survive and be able to pay for monitors, tokens, licenses, etc., have to ask for that fee, and it is not cheap. It easily ranges between 600 and 800 euros per year per child.”
He quickly came to the conclusion that this scenario was exclusive. "If in Catalonia any child has the right to be enrolled in school and have access to public healthcare, it would be good if he could also have access to the same extracurricular activities as his schoolmates." And he got to work.
The idea was to look for sponsors - also ask for subsidies - who could help the club finance the project. “We could not, obviously, charge that cost to the parents who do pay the fee, it would be unfair.” And since then they haven't stopped moving.
Among the more than 30 girls receiving scholarships this year, there are different cases: families who only have to pay the fee, others who not only have to take care of it, but also the equipment, the license or even the cost. of the preseason stage that they do every year. And all of this amounts to a certainly prohibitive amount for a club like CBF Cerdanyola. “The cost per girl can amount to a thousand euros per year. Do the multiplication. Assuming that amount for a modest club like ours is unfeasible.”
The project welcomes girls from the age of 5 - from 5 to 7 they are in the club's basketball school - until they are 20, senior age. "The bulk is concentrated, however, in the pre-minibasketball, minibasketball and children's teams, although there are also some in the cadet team."
Mestre explains that shortly after landing in the entity, a change is already observed in them. “You see them when they first arrive. They are there, in the middle of the court, timid, they don't know how to react. But shortly after, they began to integrate into the group.” So much so that a few days ago, on the occasion of the presentation of the season, "they were already seen jumping, laughing, like any member of the team." That is social integration, he emphasizes. “For us, seeing them like this is a reward.”
He argues that while they are training, “at least they are not on the street.” The truth is that they have a busy agenda. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, training. And on the weekend, a game. “In addition, we encourage them to go see the older girls' games.” In short, it is about creating “a healthy environment.”
The volume of girls who want to access the project - called Totes juguen (They all play) - does not stop growing, which is why Mestre fears that the initiative could one day die of success. “We are putting on the brakes because, unfortunately, there are many girls in need, and not only from abroad, but also from here.”
The little ones reach them in different ways. Some go to shelters to look for them. “We take them to train and, when they finish, we return them.” Others go to them directly. The club is also in contact with institutions such as Creu Roja or Cáritas.
Mestre takes the opportunity to appeal to the Cerdanyola entities. “They would have to react.” He explains that most of the aid they receive is from outside the town, and that he has visited, he says, local businesses and businesses, without much success. "It is very difficult".
He has no complaints about the City Council. Contribute by giving them facilities. They are overwhelmed by the amount of equipment they have and are offered schoolyards (outside school hours).
