Cali Triathlon Kids (Brazil)

Together with Cali Amaral, president of the Association of Southeast Triathlon (ASTRI) in Brazil, and world renowned triathlon coach Brett Sutton, teamTBB is working to make a real difference in the lives of underprivileged youths in this country through the sport of triathlon.

The Cali Triathlon Kids project grew out of an independent social project first started in 1997 in Sao Carlos, Brazil by a partnership of three companies, USP, N&A Mercado Cultural and KPMG Auditores Independentes. The project catered daily to 220 underprivileged youths from 10-14 years old from lower income homes.

In February 2007, the first branch of the project Cali Triathlon Kids was started in the municipality Sao Carlos by ASTRI and Projeto Pequeno Cidadao USP Sao Carlos (Citizens Small Project). Four more groups have been set up in various municipalities, bringing the total number of children under this project to 350.

Years before this project was officially launched, however, Brett Sutton and Cali Amaral had already been actively working to help underprivileged children, not just through providing basic needs such as food, clothing, health care and supervision, but also through their roles as triathlon coaches, discovering and nurturing talent in the sport of triathlon. From these early seeds a few champions have already been grown.

teamTBB is in the unique position to support this project as we can leverage on our influence in the world of triathlon, which will enable us to bring awareness to a greater number of people in the sports, obtain sponsorships, and connect to top triathletes who can mentor the young athletes and be role models.

One such example is of course teamTBB's "Brazilian lion", Reinaldo Colucci, who not too many years ago was just another kid helped by a social project, then discovered by a triathlon coach at the tender age of 15.

Today, Reinaldo is a triathlon champion and can boast of numerous podium finishes at international triathlon events, from ITU distance races to the Ironman. He is a hero in the eyes of the young children in the Cali Triathlon Kids project, and for a good reason: he represents hope and opportunity to these children, the living proof that their lives can change dramatically, if they only believed and put in the effort and discipline.

Click on photo to read more details about the Cali Triathlon Kids Program.

Cali Amaral	Brett Sutton	Alex Bok	Reinaldo Colucci