By Elissa Fichtler | Institutional Development Coordinator
Acorde para o Esporte 2025 – Creating Belonging, Strength and Opportunity Through Sport
In 2025, the Acorde para o Esporte (Wake Up for Sport) project demonstrated how sport, when intentionally designed as an educational and cultural practice, can transform lives and strengthen communities.
With the support of our donors, the project provided access to inclusive, high quality educational sports activities for 259 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 living in socially vulnerable contexts in the cities of Embu das Artes and Cotia, in the metropolitan region of São Paulo. Over the year, 1,111 workshops were delivered across four core disciplines Capoeira, Taekwondo, Cooperative Games and African Games, totaling more than 1,660 hours of structured programming
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More than physical activity, these workshops became safe and welcoming spaces where children and young people could build confidence, develop emotional skills and experience a strong sense of belonging. Sport was consistently recognized by participants and families as a powerful educational tool that connects body, culture and social relationships.
What changed for participants
Throughout the year, educators observed meaningful progress in socio emotional development. Children and adolescents demonstrated greater self esteem, improved emotional regulation and more respectful relationships with peers and adults. Situations involving challenge, frustration and cooperation were intentionally used as learning opportunities, helping participants develop persistence, empathy and responsible decision making.
Achievements such as Taekwondo belt examinations, participation in Capoeira and Taekwondo championships and public cultural presentations played a key role in strengthening self confidence. For many adolescents, these moments marked a turning point, as they began to see themselves as capable, committed and even as role models for younger participants.
The project also fostered leadership and autonomy. Teenagers took on mentoring roles, supported younger groups during activities and actively participated in the creation of cultural presentations, games and collective projects. These experiences reinforced a sense of responsibility and ownership over their learning journey.
Culture, identity and inclusion
By integrating Capoeira and African Games, the project expanded participants’ sociocultural repertoire and promoted reflections on identity, racism, cooperation and respect. Through research activities, dialogue circles and artistic productions presented at the 2nd Acorde Cultural Exhibition, children and adolescents connected their physical experiences to broader cultural and historical narratives.
In total, the Cultural Exhibition welcomed more than 750 visitors, including families, community members and partners, creating a powerful moment of visibility, pride and collective celebration
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Inclusion was a central commitment throughout the project. As the team worked with neurodivergent children, the need for individualized support became clear. With donor support, an additional support educator was included to ensure meaningful participation, reinforcing equity and access for all participants.
Beyond the workshops
Families frequently shared spontaneous feedback highlighting positive changes at home. Caregivers reported improvements in communication, organization and emotional regulation, noting that children became calmer, more confident and more engaged in daily life. Several families also observed positive spillover effects in school performance and social interactions.
Looking ahead
The results of Acorde para o Esporte in 2025 show that sustained investment in educational sport generates long term impact. It strengthens children not only physically, but emotionally, socially and culturally, helping them build the skills and confidence needed to navigate their lives with dignity and purpose.
Every donation made this journey possible. Continued support will allow the project to deepen its reach, strengthen inclusion strategies and ensure that even more children and adolescents have access to transformative experiences through sport.
Thank you for being part of this story. Your support helps turn movement into meaning, and potential into opportunity.
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