Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
In the last years, many social projects have been created in order to address problematic
communities. Projects that intervene through sport have been successful as they use its appeal
to reach these communities. As a result, the number of this kind of projects has been
increasing swiftly, in both developed and underdeveloped countries. However, Non-
Governmental Organizations and other social organizations are facing increasing difficulties
to finance its activities.
The objective of this dissertation is to determine the way these projects can become
sustainable in the long term and eventually be turned into social enterprises. More concretely,
it is analyzed the case of Escolinha de Rugby da Galiza (ERG), a recent social project that
uses rugby so as to intervene in the deprived community of Galiza in Estoril, Portugal, which
faces several challenges in its development.
Also, it is analyzed the key factors that allowed ERG to be a successful case of a social
integration through sport's project and that are essential for its growth and development. It
becomes clear that rugby is only a tool to fulfil the project's mission and therefore ERG
should not become a rugby club, as it would deviate the project from its goals.
We can conclude that ERG should adopt earning income strategies in order to become
sustainable. The acquisition of a training field would provide a much better athletic
development for ERG's players, the field renting costs would cease and could be a relevant
source of income through renting. On the other hand, ERG should continue to establish longterm
partnerships with companies and other institutions as it would permit more reliable
sources of external income.