APCEF/SP | Fenae projects strengthen education in Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe

Teaching in a playful way, where children are led to learn and value themselves as protagonists of their own stories and change the reality where they live. With this aim, the National Federation of Caixa Staff Associations (Fenae) has dedicated a loving and committed look to the education projects developed for girls and boys who live in socially vulnerable communities in Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe.

On World Book Day, celebrated this April 23rd, Fenae highlights the projects “Transformar e Educar”, developed in partnership with Apcef in Sergipe, and “Learning with Letters, Numbers and Balls”, from Apcef in Rio Grande do Norte, which serve children who live in underprivileged communities in both states. In addition to school reinforcement, such as math classes, Portuguese and reading practice, the two Apcefs open their doors so that these children can also participate in sporting activities. Both projects were selected through the Fenae and Apcefs social responsibility project selection notices, in partnership with the NGO Moradia e Cidadania.

Valuing the transformative potential of education, Fenae sees these projects as fundamental instruments for building a fairer and more prosperous future for less favored communities, investing in the human and social development of these regions, as explained by Fenae’s president, Sergio Takemoto: “Education projects for children in Rio Grande do Norte and Sergipe are an investment in the future of these communities. Through education, we are building opportunities and transforming lives.”

Transform and Educate

Since 2022, the “Transform and Educate” project, developed at Apcef/SE, has served around 60 children in the Recanto da Paz neighborhood, in Aracaju, with school support and sports activities. The community is one of the most violent in the city and lacks basic attention from the state. For the parents of the children served, the initiative is a way of valuing the potential of children and an opportunity to build a better future for themselves.

Mother of a child benefiting from the project, resident of Recanto da Paz Járbora Dácio highlights the initiatives as a real opportunity. “My daughter and niece receive support at school. For me, as Acsa Eloá’s mother, it is very satisfying to see the opportunity she is having, as this project adds knowledge for her growth. I can only thank Apcef and Fenae for their initiative”, she declares.

Housewife Marisa Teixeira also has a daughter who does tutoring at Apcef/SE. “This is the second year that my daughter has participated in the project. This initiative is a true gift for children, as it has brought many benefits to our community,” she recalls.

For the president of Apcef/SE, Diogo Melo, the project developed is of utmost importance, mainly because it is the opportunity to see in parents, guardians and people from the residents’ association, the importance they give to the learning process that children have.

“The project serves children from the neighborhood, which is one of the most violent here. Therefore, they see this initiative as an instrument for changing the reality of the community where they are located”, she explains. “This is the main reason why the NGO Moradia e Cidadania is here, which is to help us serve and benefit socially vulnerable children. It is precisely the transformation that they see in these children and in the possibility of their community being transformed through education”, he concludes.

Learning with Letters, Numbers and Balls

In Rio Grande do Norte, the “Learning with Letters, Numbers and Balls” project serves 40 children from the community of Pium, in the municipality of Parnamirim. The project takes place every Saturday from 8 am to 11 am, and serves children between 7 and 14 years old, with sports practices, recreational activities and tutoring.

For housewife Divânia Dantas, the initiative is a real opportunity for children in the community. For the mother of student Nícolas Jesiel, in addition to helping with her son’s intellect, the tutoring class and leisure time with football helped with his development and interaction with other children. “This project makes a difference for all children. I think this is very important for the growth of my son and each of the children who participate. It’s another opportunity for him to become a better adult for our country,” she said.

Silvana Chagas, another mother of a student benefiting from the project, also highlights the importance of tutoring classes and football practice for her daughter’s development. “She is learning a lot with the tutoring classes. Another thing that helped my daughter a lot was the issue of socialization. She lived in lockdown, after joining this project she is socializing more with the other children. It helped to occupy my mind even more”, she reports.

The volunteer coordinator of the NGO Moradia de Cidadania, Altenizia Mota Neves, explains the importance of the initiative to help these needy communities. In addition to math, reading and football classes, the project also offers snacks for children, as many go to the program without having eaten. According to her, another important factor is that the classes help with the behavioral and socialization issues of the children attended. “In addition to teaching mathematics and Portuguese, this work is done so that they learn the value that each human being has, that each human being can be and that they can grow regardless of where they are. Being a correct and dignified citizen A citizen who is able to participate and compete in the future so that they can have a better quality of life and also offer it to their parents”, explains Altenizia.