LONGUEUIL: Academic Perseverance Through Sports with the Youth of SÉSUMAS and NSK

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Amid cheers and the sound of bouncing balls, a project full of hope for young people took shape in Longueuil. The Centre de Support Médicale et d’Assistance Sociale SÉSUMAS, in collaboration with the organization NSK, launched an original program promoting academic perseverance through sports, aiming to unite health, education, and solidarity.

“Our goal is to launch a program that encourages young people to stay in school through sports,” explains Chrismine Joseph, president of SÉSUMAS. Based at 210 Jean-Talon Street in Longueuil, the organization has been involved for several years in promoting overall well-being. “Sports mean health, but also education,” she insists. “That’s why we talk about academic perseverance through sports. We want to give young people constructive activities during the school period and allow them to enjoy a good summer.”

On the field, two teams face off in a friendly match: SÉSUMAS of Longueuil and NSK of Montreal. But beyond the game itself, a spirit of collaboration and unity prevails. For Sarah Laporal, communications director of NSK, the event symbolizes a much-needed shift in how associations work together. “People often say that associations don’t collaborate,” she points out. “Today, we want to prove the opposite. NSK is an organization that helps young people stay active, avoid delinquency and boredom, and find a positive environment to spend their weekends or vacations.”

Among the young players, Samuel, who came after his mother told him about the tournament, shares how the experience has helped him. “I wanted to play, so I signed up. Sports help me get stronger physically,” he says with a smile between plays.

Another player, Adame, shows the same passion: “I really love sports. It gives me a lot — like strength, health… and maybe good health for the future.”

These testimonies reflect the central mission of both organizations: making sports a tool for personal and educational growth. “It’s very important for us to organize events like this,” emphasizes Sarah Laporal again. “It allows for more diversity and connection between young people from different neighborhoods. Sports help develop physical, mental, and neuropsychological abilities. It’s a powerful tool for maintaining good mental health, especially at a time when young people need it more than ever.”

Through this initiative, SÉSUMAS and NSK demonstrate that it is possible to combine fun, learning, and prevention. The ball, a simple instrument of play, becomes a symbol of the future — a way to encourage every young person to persevere, believe in themselves, and build a more balanced life ahead.