On Friday, the 20th, Ramacrisna Institute inaugurated its new Motorcycle Mechanics School, an initiative supported by sponsorship from the Japanese Government and Yamaha. The opening ceremony was attended by the Consul-General of Japan in Rio de Janeiro, Takashi Manabe, and marked a significant milestone in providing free professional training for young people in the metropolitan region of Belo Horizonte.

“It is with great satisfaction and joy that we inaugurate the Motorcycle Mechanics School. This partnership is extremely important for Ramacrisna, as Japan and Brazil have a longstanding cooperative relationship. We are committed to supporting sustainable development in the country, and this time, we are doing so in Betim, alongside the Ramacrisna Institute. This is the third project we have carried out with the Institute, as we believe it plays a vital role in the social development of the city, and we trust in its management,” stated Consul-General Takashi Manabe.

With a 200-square-meter facility, the Motorcycle Mechanics School was designed to offer both theoretical and hands-on training, preparing highly qualified professionals for the growing motorcycle mechanics market. The space includes a classroom equipped for theoretical lessons and a modern workshop with four motorcycles, including one electric, allowing students to apply the knowledge they acquire in practice.

“This is another important partnership between the Japanese Government and the Institute, and we are very pleased because it is a unique project. Currently, vocational schools in the market are predominantly focused on car mechanics. A space dedicated 100% to motorcycle mechanics is innovative, enabling students to truly specialize in the profession. With Yamaha’s partnership, we will provide equipment for practical lessons, and in addition to conventional motorcycles, we have acquired an electric motorcycle, giving students access to a wide range of vehicles,” said Solange Bottaro, Vice President of Ramacrisna Institute.

Tribute

The new facility was named Dr. Tomaz de Aquino Rezende Motorcycle Mechanics School, in honor of a Ramacrisna Institute board member and President of CEBRAF (Brazilian Confederation of Foundations). Dr. Tomaz is a lawyer who served as Prosecutor for the Public Ministry of the State of Minas Gerais for 23 years, a lecturer, and an author. He has worked at prominent law firms and served as the Attorney General of the Municipality of Belo Horizonte for nearly three years, where he played a key role in implementing the Regulatory Framework for the Third Sector in the capital.

Other Projects

The Motorcycle Mechanics School is the latest achievement in the long history of partnerships between Ramacrisna Institute and the Japanese Government. In 2007, with the support of the Japanese government, the Car Mechanics School was opened, which has since trained 2,912 young people. In 2017, a new building was constructed to house the Young Apprentice project, which has benefited 4,319 adolescents, and the Industrial Robotics course, which has trained 478 young people. This crucial partnership has transformed the lives of 7,709 young people from 12 cities in the Belo Horizonte metropolitan area.