The meeting brought together educators, leaders, and policymakers from more than 30 countries to discuss ethical and humanistic education in schools
The educational model developed by the Ramacrisna Institute in Betim, in the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Area, gained prominence in one of the leading international debates on values education. The institution participated in the International Conference on Values Education, held at the Sathya Sai Grama center in Muddenahalli, India, with representatives from more than 30 countries.
During the conference, educators, leaders, and policymakers discussed how to align academic success with ethical education. The discussions were based on the understanding that education must go beyond intellectual development, also contributing to the development of character, empathy, responsibility, and ethical leadership.
The program presented strategies for fostering values from early childhood through college. Among the topics covered were psychological frameworks appropriate for each age group, tools to guide students in facing real-life ethical dilemmas, and the role of educators as role models and creators of learning environments grounded in human values.
Ramacrisna was represented by staff member Mesaque Vieira, whose personal and professional journeys converge to form a unique experience within the Organization itself. He attended the institution during his childhood, studied audiovisual arts as a student and served as a teenage apprentice; he earned a degree in architecture through a scholarship and is currently part of the Institute’s professional team.
Education as a Bridge to Opportunities
During the panel, Mesaque explained how Ramacrisna integrates education, culture, sports, technology, music, reading, robotics, vocational training, and citizenship to expand opportunities for children and young people. “It was an honor to share this message with people from more than 30 countries and to see that they were moved by the work being done in Brazil. I feel that Professor Arlindo Corrêa, our founder, would be proud to see how far the Ramacrisna Institute has come, especially in a place whose philosophy and spirituality inspired him,” says Mesaque.
He also highlighted the exchange of experiences with educators from countries such as Croatia, Israel, Argentina, Zambia, and the United Arab Emirates. “Meeting people from different cultures, all motivated by the same mission, was a unique and very enriching opportunity,” he reports.
At the end of the event, Mesaque received the One World One Family mission sash and a trophy as a token of appreciation, presented by Dr. B. N. Narasimha Murthy, with the blessings of Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai.
Global Humanitarian Award
The Ramakrishna Institute’s participation in the International Conference on Values Education followed its receipt, in 2025—also in India—of the Global Humanitarian Award, considered one of the most important international recognitions in the social sector. The award was presented during the World Cultural Festival, an event that celebrated love, unity, and shared humanity as part of the centennial celebrations marking the birth of Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba.
