Academia do Johnson

Academia do Johnson, IPSS, is a non-profit registered charitable organization based in Amadora - Lisbon, Portugal. We work with more than 150 young people and children from 5 of the most deprived neighbourhoods in the area of Great Lisbon, and our goal is to prevent high-risk behaviours through sports and education. For that purpose, our Institution holds 6 Futsal teams and a tutoring center which provides schooling and educational support, and also offers other activities such as Dance, Music and Kickboxing. Alongside our daily work with these youngsters, we also support a group of 30 young inmates and help their re-integration in society throughout the end of their prison sentence and after their release. Our success is much due to one of the founders, João Tavares, better known as “Johnson”. He grew up in Cova da Moura, one of the most difficult neighbourhoods in Lisbon. Johnson was able to overcome marginality and delinquency through his difficult boyhood, making of his personal experience a key influence in other children's lives. Having lived and felt the same experiences and difficulties of these kids, he is able to understand and help them face their own personal problems as well as the issues which arise from their family and social context. https://pt-pt.facebook.com/academiadojohnson/