A former student of the Ramacrisna Institute, Lucas found in sport an opportunity for personal and professional transformation.

Sport and social inclusion go hand in hand when children and adolescents find opportunities to develop talents, strengthen self-esteem and see new possibilities for the future. At the Ramacrisna Institute, in Betim (MG), stories like that of Lucas Matheus de Farias show how social projects can impact lives in a profound and lasting way.

A resident of the region since childhood, Lucas became acquainted with Ramacrisna when he was still a child, when his uncle would take him to play in the Institute’s playground. He didn’t know it yet, but that space would become one of the most important pillars of his personal and professional development.

Years later, encouraged by school friends, Lucas joined the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER), now called the Learning and Essential Experiences Center (NAVE), where he participated in workshops in crafts, computer science, carpentry, a toy library, and sports. “My favorite workshop was sports. It was the first time I played on a structured court. I was so happy that I ran out and ripped the cap off my big toe,” he recalls.

Even after the accident on the very first day, his enthusiasm for sports never diminished. On the contrary: it was within the Ramacrisna courts that Lucas began to develop discipline, social interaction, and self-confidence.

Lucas’s story highlights how sports and social inclusion can open paths for children and young people in vulnerable situations. But it’s not just leisure. Sports activities serve as instruments of education, welcoming, and human development.

Sport and social inclusion as a tool for transformation

During adolescence, Lucas even took tests at soccer schools linked to Corinthians and América Mineiro. At the time, he combined training with informal jobs to help his grandparents, who were responsible for raising him.

However, with financial difficulties at home, he had to interrupt his studies and temporarily put aside his dream of professional soccer to prioritize work. In addition, the loss of his grandfather in 2016 was a decisive moment in this trajectory. “I lost my grandfather and ended up losing a part of myself. He motivated me and helped me as much as he could so that I wouldn’t miss training, but the need to have money to help at home and buy basic necessities made me put soccer aside and focus only on work. I had to go work away for a while, be away from my grandmother and my friends,” he reflects.

Even so, the bond with Ramacrisna remained present. It was at the Institute that Lucas found the strength to resume his studies, through the Youth and Adult Education (EJA) program, and enroll in the Welding course offered free of charge at Ramacrisna.

The professional training changed his reality. Shortly after completing the course, he got his first job with a formal employment contract in the field and began to see new perspectives for the future. “I started working in the welding field, the course was a turning point in my life, I was able to learn a lot and put it into practice in the job market, entering a more relaxed and formal job, thanks to the opportunity I had. I learned to deal with difficulties, to live with different people and to develop my own identity. All of this contributed to who I am today,” he says.

From student to educator: the return to Ramacrisna

But Lucas didn’t stop there. The transformation cycle gained a new chapter when Lucas returned to the institute, this time as an employee. Currently, he works as a Physical Education monitor and accompanies children and teenagers in sports workshops – precisely the ones he enjoyed most in his childhood.

Before being hired, he started as a volunteer at the soccer school on Saturdays. The experience further sparked his passion for education and sports. “I couldn’t become a professional athlete, but God had something prepared for me within sports,” he says.

Today, Lucas uses his own experience to encourage students to believe in themselves. For him, sports can awaken talents, improve self-esteem, and even help with the mental health of children and adolescents. “There are children who arrive believing that they are not good at anything. When they start practicing sports, they begin to feel capable, happy, and motivated,” he explains.

In addition to the physical benefits, Lucas highlights the importance of sports activities in preventing emotional challenges that are becoming increasingly common among young people, such as anxiety, depression, and social isolation.

Why invest in sports?

Projects like those developed by Instituto Ramacrisna demonstrate that investing in sports and social inclusion means investing in real opportunities for transformation.

Through sports workshops, children and adolescents learn about teamwork, respect, discipline, and positive social interaction. In many cases, sports also become a safe space where they can feel welcomed and develop a sense of belonging.

For Lucas, being able to give back everything he received from the institute is a source of pride. “It’s like giving other children all the love, care, and affection that I once received here.”

Stories like his reinforce that sports can go far beyond physical development. When combined with education and social support, they become a powerful tool for changing lives.

How about helping transform the lives of even more children and adolescents? Get in touch and find out how you can contribute.