By Elissa Fichtler | Institutional Development Coordinator
The Acorde para o Esporte project continues to reaffirm the transformative power of sports practice when combined with human development, cultural identity, and social inclusion. In the second quarter of 2025, 275 children and adolescents from Embu das Artes and Cotia actively participated in the workshops, totaling more than 750 hours of sports and educational activities, in addition to 688 complementary hours of integration, social support, and mentoring.
Aged between 6 and 15, most participants are Black (64%) and come from families with a per capita income of up to half the minimum wage (93%). This profile highlights the importance of the project as a unique opportunity to access qualified practices that would hardly be available in their daily lives.
Capoeira brought not only technical fundamentals but also deep reflections on emotions, competition, and resilience. Movements such as cocorinha, aú estrela, and dodges encouraged both body and mind, fostering respect, cooperation, and self-confidence.
In the Cooperative Games, the highlight was Kimball, which proved to be a powerful space for integration and leadership. While younger groups learned the basic rules and team formation, older participants advanced to strategies, communication, and collective decision-making.
The Taekwondo workshops expanded participants’ body awareness. The introduction of new kicks and technical movements, along with muscle-strengthening exercises, not only prepared them for future demonstrations but also encouraged discipline, correct posture, and injury prevention.
In the African Games, play became a dive into history and ancestry. Activities such as “Baobab Tag” and “African Kings and Queens” connected young people with African cultures, bringing narratives of resistance, wisdom, and leadership, such as the stories of Queen Nzinga and Mansa Musa. These moments helped strengthen the sense of belonging and the appreciation of Black identity.
More than promoting physical health, Acorde para o Esporte strengthens bonds, broadens cultural horizons, and contributes to building citizenship. By offering bodily practices that integrate technique, emotion, and history, the project creates spaces for coexistence that foster self-esteem, cooperation, and a vision of the future for children and adolescents.
Photos that capture this journey are available in the Flickr album, revealing the energy, dedication, and achievements of this period.
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