Children|Education / Professionalization
The Ramacrisna Institute’s project begins a new phase and reinforces, in its very name, the essence of offering support, learning, and opportunities for children and adolescents.
There are places that teach math, Portuguese, or computer science. Others help develop sports or artistic skills. NAVE Ramacrisna is born from the idea that education can go beyond all that: it also happens in the welcoming atmosphere, in coexistence, in shared experiences, and in opportunities that help children and adolescents see new paths for the future.
The project has existed for over 30 years and, until recently, was called the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER). Since then, the project has grown, new activities and pedagogical strategies have been implemented, transforming the space into an environment of multiple learnings and different experiences that are shared in the students’ daily lives. To do justice to the range of activities and care offered, the project’s identity has evolved, without losing its essence. The initiative is now called NAVE, an acronym for Nucleus of Essential Learning and Experiences.
The change in identity reflects something that has always been present in the project: the idea that a child’s development happens through experiences, relationships, and opportunities that go far beyond the traditional teaching environment.
The school routine occupies an important part of the education of children and adolescents, but it alone does not answer all the challenges of human development. A soccer game, a music workshop, the discovery of a new technology, or a simple moment when you realize your voice can be heard, are also part of learning.
And that’s what NAVE Ramacrisna does: it expands essential learning experiences. Aimed at children and teenagers between 6 and 15 years old, students from the public school system, the initiative offers free activities that combine education, culture, sports, technology, and social interaction.
In practice, the project transforms after-school hours into a welcoming and growth-oriented environment, where each participant finds opportunities to develop talents, discover interests, and strengthen their autonomy. More than just occupying time outside of school, the proposal seeks to broaden horizons.
The project was born in 1992, with the purpose of supporting children and teenagers in situations of social vulnerability. Over the years, it has become a benchmark in complementary education, accompanying different generations and contributing to the education of thousands of participants. In this period, much has changed: society has transformed, new technologies have emerged. The way of learning has also evolved, but some principles remain the same.
Building bonds, valuing the potential of each child, and believing that opportunities can transform trajectories continue to be the basis of the work done daily. The new identity emerges precisely to accompany this evolution.
The old CAER carried an important history. NAVE arrives to further strengthen the connection between the name and the purpose of the project.
The concept of integral development starts from a simple idea: children and adolescents need different stimuli to grow in a healthy way. Therefore, the program brings together activities that work on academic knowledge, socio-emotional skills, creativity, and coexistence.
Among the initiatives developed are school reinforcement, literacy, digital inclusion, robotics and programming workshops, sports activities, music, and encouragement of reading. Technology, for example, ceases to be just an entertainment tool and becomes an instrument of creation and learning.
Sports help develop discipline, cooperation, and respect. Cultural activities stimulate expression, creativity, and new ways of seeing the world.
Each experience is designed so that participants not only learn content, but also develop important life skills.
But that’s not all. When it comes to learning, attention is often focused only on school performance. However, learning also depends on other factors: feeling safe, welcomed, and belonging to an environment.
That’s why care is part of NAVE’s purpose. In addition to educational activities, participants have access to a structure designed to support their development, including equipped classrooms, sports areas, a computer lab, a library, and meals supervised by a nutritionist.
Small everyday actions can have a profound impact on the development of children and adolescents. When a child finds a space where they are heard, encouraged, and valued, they begin to see new possibilities for themselves.
The name change represents movement, growth, and renewal. But the mission remains the same: to create opportunities capable of generating real impact in the lives of children, adolescents, and their families. After all, transforming stories has never been just about teaching content. It is about creating experiences that strengthen self-esteem, awaken potential, and allow each participant to build their own path.
NAVE Ramacrisna continues to believe exactly that: every child deserves opportunities to navigate toward a future with more autonomy, dignity, and hope. Be part of this new chapter. Get in touch and learn how to contribute.
