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Having a healthy childhood is every child’s right. Ensuring this condition is the responsibility of society as a whole. But what does a healthy childhood actually mean?
This is a question that involves different aspects. Generally speaking, a healthy childhood is one in which a child’s basic needs are met in terms of nutrition, safety, medical care, love, and emotional support.
Promoting a healthy childhood is a shared responsibility of the whole society. Each member plays a different – and crucial – role in this process. Ideally, everyone should work together to ensure that children grow up with physical, emotional, and intellectual health.
The family is the first environment where a child develops. It is with family members that they learn values, affection, security, and it’s the primary socialization environment. Parents and caregivers have the duty to provide a stable and loving environment, stimulating cognitive and emotional development. Additionally, the home should be a place of open, respectful conversation and abundant emotional support.
School is a fundamental environment for child development. After all, within the educational environment, a child gains academic knowledge, interacts socially, and develops problem-solving skills and emotional control. The school should also be an inclusive environment where all children feel included, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds.
The community should act as an ally for children, ensuring access to quality public services such as healthcare and creating safe and suitable spaces for play and outdoor activities.
The Third Sector is essential for promoting a healthy childhood. Civil Society Organizations must work together with governments, schools, and families, complementing actions and supporting individuals in socially vulnerable situations.
The Ramacrisna Institute develops several projects directly aimed at promoting a healthy childhood. One of them is the Ramacrisna Educational Support Center (CAER), which offers various free workshops to children in the areas of education, sports, culture, and technology. These activities take place outside regular school hours in public schools. The Institute provides daily lunch and snacks for the students, even during vacations, as well as clothing, as an incentive for families to keep them attending school regularly.
To promote access to reading, the Institution has the Professor Arlindo Corrêa da Silva Library, which has a collection of children’s and adult literature with over nine thousand cataloged books. The space hosts various reading promotion activities, such as storytelling sessions and “Literary Fridays,” where children choose a book to take home for the weekend. The library also has a collection in Braille and audiobooks to serve readers with disabilities, as well as a toy library with board games for socialization and interaction among Institute students.
The “Building the Future” project, carried out in partnership with Petrobras, includes activities for children living in the Imbiruçu and Petrovale neighborhoods in Betim, and in the cities of Ibirité and Sarzedo, regions near REGAP. From the age of six, children can participate in sports activities such as basketball, indoor soccer, volleyball, handball, and capoeira.
Children also engage in similar activities in the “Sports in Motion” project, sponsored by Vale, Goldman Sachs Bank, Goldman Sachs Corretora, and Rede Itaú through the Federal Law for Sports Incentive. Free of charge, children can participate in football, futsal, shuttlecock, volleyball, judo, and basketball, which, beyond the sports aspect, also aid in the holistic development of the individual and their formation for citizenship and leisure.
The “Live Sports” project, in partnership with the Betim Municipal Government, seeks to offer physical, sports, leisure, and recreational activities, bodily practices, and competitive sports, providing access to children from 4 years old. The activities are free, conducted in inclusive environments, and supervised by specialized professionals.
Also in partnership with the Betim Municipal Government, the “CASA” project is aimed at Betim residents aged 6 and above. Sports classes include disciplines such as football, indoor soccer, martial arts, swimming, ballet, gymnastics, and recreational activities. Children also receive academic reinforcement and guitar lessons.
Incorporating technology, education, and sports, the “Checkmate” project, sponsored by Vale through the Federal Law for Sports Incentive, offers robotics and chess workshops for children from 6 years old. The goal is to achieve the comprehensive development of the individual and their formation for citizenship and leisure.
To sustain these and other projects and ensure a healthy childhood for even more children, we need financial support. Be part of our goodwill chain. Get in touch and make your donation.
