The Ajudôu project also caught the attention of educators, who noticed improvements in students’ school performance. “Projeto Ajudôu has contributed a lot to the students’ socialization and learning process. Important values are being reinforced, such as respect, perseverance, humility and self-control”, observes Leonor Marques, pedagogical supervisor of the São José do Goiabal Municipal Network.

According to Ermelindo Vasconcelos, Coordinator of the Full Time program at the “Manuel Lúcio de Morais” School in São José do Goiabal, “the project contributes to discipline, integration and mutual respect among students. We have a student with behavioral difficulties and the judo teacher has helped us a lot in favoring her better coexistence with the other classmates and employees.”

The Ajudôu project is developed through the Minas Esportiva Incentive to Sport, of the State Department of Sport of Minas Gerais, with the support of the Municipalities of Dionísio and São José do Goiabal and is sponsored by ARCELORMITTAL BRASIL.

According to the Project Coordinator, Júlio Cesar Jaques, the project’s balance was very positive, “we could see from the students, as well as from the parents and teachers, a great enthusiasm in participating in the activities, everyone embraced the project. ” Júlio also emphasizes the importance of incentive laws and the support of sponsoring companies to carry out the project, “We from Ajudôu and the community of Dionísio and São José do Goiabal expect the Project to continue next year”.