Project Alcatraz

Project Alcatraz was set up in 2003 through The Santa Teresa Foundation, the foundation of C. A. Ron Santa Teresa, the second largest rum distiller in Venezuela. Set up in 2003 by Executive President, Alberto Vollmer, the project began after a security guard of the company was the victim of a hold up. Once arrested, those responsible were offered the choice of going to jail or paying for their actions by working, unpaid, for three months. They took the option of work and not only turned up but bought the rest of the gang (of over 20 members) with them.

Project Alcatraz was born. It is a unique project in the way it uses rugby to tackle gang crime in Venezuela. With a mission to peacefully eradicate crime and transform violent leadership of youth offenders into virtuous leadership, this project uses an ambitious and ground-breaking method to recruit full gangs – not solely gang members – to participate in the project, and then be reinserted into society.

During the two-year initiative, the former gangs participate in community service, civil values training, vocational training, psychological assistance, and rugby training – something that is quite unexpected in a country where the sport is not often played or recognised. Once participants have completed a three-month training programme, graduates choose from a job within C.A. Ron Santa Teresa or continue their training with El Taller del Constructor – a collection of community service programmes in the area. Under a zero-crime motto, the project has fully disarmed five major gangs in the area since 2003, resulting in a 65 percent decrease in crime and close to 88 percent decrease in homicide, showing how vital it is to give attention to this specific population.

Philosophy = “violence breeds violence and trust stimulates trust”.

With the funding received, Project Alcatraz trained more rugby coaches, in order to recruit, and train more gang members to play rugby. Project Alcatraz also used funding to buy equipment, and develop a rugby club for local communities that would help 'transform addictions into a sport spirit community' 

Click here to view the designated project page. 

Project Alcatraz: Winner of Sport for Social Inclusion Award 2009