Rugby project in 'Paradise City' favela offers youngsters Olympic dream

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

The project is not just about teaching youngsters to play rugby -- it also aids in their education and provides food to a poor community.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

It is the brainchild of Mauricio Draghi (left) and Fabricio Kobashi, who hail from a more affluent area of the city.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Bianca Silva has been one of the success stories of the project -- the teenager has forced her way into the Brazilian sevens international setup.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

In the favela from which she hails, she has become known as the "lioness of the Olympics" and a role model for young girls. However, the teenager missed out on selection for the Games.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Silva has been hailed as the new star of the game at the international level in Brazil, which is traditionally a football-loving nation.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

This image of Sao Paulo's Paraisopólis ("Paradise City") shows the favela's stark contrast of rich and poor.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

The favela is home to Rugby Para Todos, a project set up 12 years ago by two rugby players.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Originally with little money for the project, the pair worked as volunteers getting youngsters off the streets and into rugby.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Originally, they just played rugby in training sessions on a dust bowl of a pitch shared with local football teams.

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

But thanks to a government tax on businesses ahead of the Olympics in Brazil, they have had the funding to go full-time and install a new pitch.

Hide Caption

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Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

The project is not just about teaching youngsters to play rugby -- it also aids in their education and provides food to a poor community.

Hide Caption

6 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

It is the brainchild of Mauricio Draghi (left) and Fabricio Kobashi, who hail from a more affluent area of the city.

Hide Caption

7 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Bianca Silva has been one of the success stories of the project -- the teenager has forced her way into the Brazilian sevens international setup.

Hide Caption

8 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

In the favela from which she hails, she has become known as the "lioness of the Olympics" and a role model for young girls. However, the teenager missed out on selection for the Games.

Hide Caption

9 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Silva has been hailed as the new star of the game at the international level in Brazil, which is traditionally a football-loving nation.

Hide Caption

10 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

This image of Sao Paulo's Paraisopólis ("Paradise City") shows the favela's stark contrast of rich and poor.

Hide Caption

1 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

The favela is home to Rugby Para Todos, a project set up 12 years ago by two rugby players.

Hide Caption

2 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Originally with little money for the project, the pair worked as volunteers getting youngsters off the streets and into rugby.

Hide Caption

3 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

Originally, they just played rugby in training sessions on a dust bowl of a pitch shared with local football teams.

Hide Caption

4 of 10

Photos: Rugby in 'Paradise City'

But thanks to a government tax on businesses ahead of the Olympics in Brazil, they have had the funding to go full-time and install a new pitch.

Hide Caption

5 of 10

A rugby project in São Paulo is giving youngsters a chance to get out of poverty in their favela and aspire for Olympic sevens glory.