Social Project sponsored by Vale, held in Timóteo, Coronel Fabriciano and Periquito

During the months of September and October, the 480 students of the Sport for All Project in the cities of Timóteo, Coronel Fabriciano and Periquito received uniform kits for practicing judo, karate, futsal and volleyball. The project is developed by the ONG Ajudôu, in partnership with Vale, through the Federal Sports Incentive Law.

“We believe that sport stimulates cognitive abilities and social coexistence and, many times, becomes an educational tool for children to become critical, participative and transforming citizens of their realities. Being a partner in a project like Esporte para Todos is an example of this and confirms that the benefits of practicing sports for children go far beyond physical activity. In this way, we seek to contribute to the social development of the territories where Vale is present”, comments  Pamella De-Cnop, Executive Director of the Vale Foundation.

Students who practice volleyball and futsal received shirts, shorts, sneakers and socks. As for the martial arts, judo and karate, in addition to the items mentioned above, they received the judogi, consisting of pants (shitabaki), coat (wagui) and belt (obi). Beneficiaries are aged between 7 and 17 years, regularly enrolled in the public education network of the participating municipalities.

Alessandro Alex Alves is the father of Caio Gabriel, a Volleyball and Futsal student at Cachoeira do Vale, in Timóteo (MG). He says that the project was essential for the social development of his son in the context of the pandemic. “My son was on the computer and cell phone a lot, with the pandemic he was even more out of contact with children his age. I put him in the project to play more and make friends. He is very shy and his socialization has improved a lot,” he says.

About Ajudôu

Ajudôu is a Non-Governmental Organization, recognized for its public utility at the municipal and state levels. It was founded in 1995, in Timóteo-MG, and has already served more than 30 thousand children and adolescents with free judo and other sports classes. Currently, Ajudôu is expanding its work to more than 30 cities in 4 different states.