In a primary school in soccer-crazy Brazil, students are motivated to achieve great things academically in a soccer-field-like classroom with avatars inspired by star forward Vinicius Junior, who plays for each Cheers for a correct answer. They sit on football-patterned mats on the artificial turf classroom floor and study on tablets and smartphones using an app created by the Vini Jr Institute, a project started by Real Madrid athletes to improve public education in disadvantaged communities.
“While using the app, I learned Better, easier, it looks like a game.”
Da Silva attends the Visconde de Sepetiba Municipal School, one of ten schools in four Brazilian states that receive educational assistance from the agency.
Launched in 2021, the project has benefited approximately 4,500 students and 500 teachers. By the end of this year, it is expected that the number of schools benefiting will reach 30.
The app is not intended to replace a human teacher and is therefore designed as an assistive tool.
Each student has a personal account and their progress is recorded as they answer questions on subjects such as maths, Portuguese or science, presented in a fun, football-inspired way.
In a typical game format, each school year is presented as a “season” and each subject as a “game”, with the avatar “Vinizinho Jr” celebrating each correct answer as if it were a goal Same.
“The power of football”
“We use the power of football and its playful nature” to motivate children to learn, Vini Jr Institute executive manager Victor Oliveira told AFP.
“Everything we learn, we put into practice on the app. It helps us learn because we are connected to our phones but not disconnected from our learning,” Yuri Rodriguez, 11 Yuri Rodrigues) said.
The institute, initially funded exclusively by Vinicius but now also has other sponsors, also aims to tackle the scourge of racism in a country where more than half the population is black or mixed-race.
It launched an anti-racism training manual and provided guidance on the topic to about 80 teachers last year.
It’s an important topic for the Brazilian attacker, who himself has suffered several incidents of discrimination in Spain.
“He means so much to all of us,” said 11-year-old Ana Clara.
“I’m glad he never gave up. And because his voice had a broad audience, he could fight for us,” she said.
In October, Vinicius received the Socrates Award for charity work at the annual football awards ceremony.
Last month, the 23-year-old was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador, becoming the second Brazilian footballer after Pele to receive this honor.
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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