The morning of Wednesday 20th was marked by the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Ramacrisna Adolescent Apprentice program. To celebrate, the institution prepared a great gift for the community: the inauguration of a new unit located in the center of Betim (Avenida Governador Valadares, 296, 4th floor), a space that will facilitate access for students, who come from different parts of the city to Ramacrisna’s headquarters in the Santo Afonso neighborhood.

The ceremony was attended by partner companies, authorities and former students who have excelled and are pursuing their professional careers thanks to the program. Solange Bottaro, vice-president of the Ramacrisna Institute, highlighted the importance of the program for social transformation. “Throughout this journey, we have seen countless teenagers transform into trained professionals who are ready for the job market. And this change is only possible thanks to the support of each partner, who believes in Ramacrisna’s work and in the potential of these young people,” she said.

During the event, Aline Consuelita, the program’s coordinator, highlighted the emotion of seeing this dream come true. “Celebrating this moment alongside our partners, who believe in and invest in this work, makes it all the more special. Over these 20 years, we have overcome countless challenges and transformed the lives of many young people. Today, with the inauguration of this new center, we are taking another important step to expand this impact, offering more accessibility and comfort for our apprentices,” he said.

The mayor of Betim, Heron Guimarães, stressed the importance of partnerships like this for the municipality. “Ramacrisna is a well-established institution that has been operating in our city for 66 years and has a long-standing partnership with the municipality through various programs. The Adolescent Apprentice program, in particular, is top notch, the training that Ramacrisna does to get these young people into the job market is extremely important and they are to be congratulated, as mayor we will continue to invest in initiatives like this. This new unit will further improve the institution’s relationship with the municipality and companies,” he emphasized.

With the inauguration of the new unit, the Ramacrisna Institute reinforces its commitment to transforming lives through professional training and social inclusion. The celebration of Adolescente Aprendiz’s 20th anniversary reaffirms the importance of the program and its significant contribution to employability and youth development in the region.

About the program
Over two decades, the Adolescente Aprendiz program has trained more than 5,000 young people, providing professional training and the opportunity to enter the job market. Currently, around 80% of the program’s participants are hired at the end of their apprenticeship contract, providing an increase in average family income of 25% and having a positive impact on the lives of both the young people and their families.