AT SCHOOL WITH INTER CAMPUS

AT SCHOOL WITH INTER CAMPUS

Inter Campus in Brazil, as across the world, has strong links to education. On one hand, it gives children the chance to play, while on the other, it ensures that kids go to school, study and subsequently grow as people.

This bond is particularly strong in Camocim, Ceará, where the yellow vans of Geral Campos and Alba Maria take classrooms full of children out to the football pitch. Textbooks and notepads are swapped for balls and cones, however, there is still a strong focus on learning. Each exercise is a problem to solve, with numbers, equations, and formulas. Maths and geometry skills taught in the classroom are used to fuel these activities, solidifying the kids’ knowledge further. These exercises are great for the children because they stimulate both their minds and bodies while having great amount of fun. A change in the approach, but not in the content. Together with them, Inter Campus is ensuring that the classroom and our training sessions both have the Nerazzurri theme.

Programme of regular sporting and recreational activities

The first ever Inter Campus programme was launched in the country, specifically in a Recife favela in 1997. An investigation into the situation in the local area had revealed a high level of abandonment of compulsory education. In response, Inter Campus and Pirelli created a programme of regular sporting and recreational activities within the favelas. Children were given Nerazzurri jerseys on the sole condition that they regularly attended school.

The initiative was later broadened to provide assistance to street children and includes participation from families and schools. From the very beginning, the local instructors – trained through Inter Campus technical staff clinics – have not only worked towards the sporting development of the children but also dedicate great care and attention to the educational and behavioural perspectives. Frequent support is also provided by education, health and academic experts.

Inter Campus Brazil is currently active in the favelas of Rio de Janeiro and Recife in collaboration with the Asociaçao Real Maré, in the suburbs of Sao Paolo with the Parrocchia Nossa Senhora de Fatima, in Pititinga with the Fundaçao Vida a Pititinga and sponsored by Costa Incorporadora in Camocim. The current objective is to raise literacy among nearly 2000 children between 6 and 13. Sports and educational activities are organised to prevent social deviance, focusing on deprived areas and training local instructors through refresher sessions.