Instituto Crescer Legal

What Instituto Crescer Legal does

Instituto Crescer Legal is a Brazilian nonprofit civil association (CNPJ 22.650.636/0001-11) founded on April 23, 2015 by SindiTabaco (Sindicato Interestadual da Indústria do Tabaco) and its member companies to combat child labor in the tobacco supply chain and create professional pathways for rural adolescents in Southern Brazil. Headquartered in Santa Cruz do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, with 23 employees, the institute operates four interconnected programs — Programa de Aprendizagem Profissional Rural (an 800-hour Rural Management and Entrepreneurship apprenticeship for adolescents aged 14-17 delivered on the opposite school shift at rural host schools), Programa Nós por Elas (gender empowerment and radio-bulletin production with UNISC), Programa Boas Práticas de Empreendedorismo para a Educação (teacher training in 52 rural schools), and Programa de Acompanhamento de Egressos (post-program alumni support) — reaching 25 municipalities across Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná, with cumulative throughput of 1,220+ youth, 93 certified teachers, and 70 Nós por Elas participants across nine cohorts.

The institute's core 'technology' is its authorial, Waldorf-Pedagogy-inspired methodology for adapting Brazil's federal Youth Apprenticeship Law (Lei da Aprendizagem) to rural adolescents, validated by the Brazilian Ministry of Labour and presented internationally at the Ibero-American Symposium (UNED Madrid, 2025) and the VII Brazil Waldorf Pedagogy Congress (UFSC, 2025). The methodology integrates five thematic axes (self-knowledge, personal history, territorial recognition, local opportunity identification, and future planning) with arts-based and field-trip-based learning. No digital platform, mobile app, or software API is offered; delivery is human-mediated through ~23 staff and a network of social educators.

The business and revenue model is hybrid. The dominant economic mechanism is corporate apprenticeship contracting under Lei da Aprendizagem: associated tobacco companies (Philip Morris Brasil, BAT Brasil, JTI Processadora, Alliance One Brasil) hire youth as apprentices, pay 20-hour/week proportional wages, and the institute delivers the training curriculum and social-education support. Secondary revenue arrives via municipal government Termo de Colaboração agreements (e.g., Termo No. 083/PGM/2024, R$ 47,635.41). The customer segments are layered: the primary impact constituency is rural adolescents aged 14-17 from family farms (and the program's graduates constitute the alumni-of-record); secondary segments are rural school teachers (Boas Práticas) and female alumni (Nós por Elas); the funding constituency consists of tobacco-industry associated companies that channel apprenticeship-quota obligations through the institute, plus municipal governments.

Name

Instituto Crescer Legal

Legal name

Associação Instituto Crescer Legal

Website

https://crescerlegal.com.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Brazilian nonprofit founded in 2015 by SindiTabaco that runs a youth apprenticeship and rural education program for adolescents aged 14-17 across 25 municipalities in Southern Brazil, funded primarily through corporate apprenticeship quotas from associated tobacco companies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural Youth Professional Apprenticeship and Social Education

NAICS

Apprenticeship Training (611513), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Educational Services (611)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community College / Training Provider Workforce Pathways Programs (EDAAAOAO)

Keywords

• Rural youth apprenticeship
• Professional learning programs
• Combating child labor
• Rural entrepreneurship education
• Social education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Santa Cruz do Sul

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Corporate sponsorship from tobacco industry associated companies: Tobacco companies associated with SindiTabaco (such as Philip Morris Brasil, BAT Brasil, JTI Processadora, Alliance One Brasil, and others) fund the youth apprenticeship program by hiring young people as apprentices under Brazil's Youth Apprenticeship Law. The companies pay apprentices' wages proportional to 20 hours/week while the youth attend the Rural Management and Entrepreneurship course at schools in their communities.
2. Government partnership agreements (Termo de Colaboração): Formal collaboration agreements with municipal governments. A Termo de Colaboração (No. 083/PGM/2024) was signed on 07/11/2024 with municipal government for R$ 47,635.41, paid on 05/12/2024, for providing services focused on rural adolescent education, entrepreneurship, and citizenship through pedagogical activities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Instituto Crescer Legal delivers professional apprenticeship and complementary educational programs for rural adolescents aged 14-17 from family farms in Southern Brazil. Its core offering is the Programa de Aprendizagem Profissional Rural, an 800-hour course in Rural Management and Entrepreneurship delivered in rural schools while youth are formally employed by associated tobacco companies under Brazil's Youth Apprenticeship Law, allowing them to earn wages, gain certification, and remain in their communities.

Product overview

Instituto Crescer Legal is a nonprofit organization that operates a portfolio of four interconnected social-educational programs focused on preventing child labor and promoting youth development in rural areas of Southern Brazil. The core offering is the Programa de Aprendizagem Profissional Rural (Professional Rural Apprenticeship Program), which provides legal employment contracts, professional training in rural management and entrepreneurship, and certification for adolescents aged 14-17 while maintaining their school attendance. This central program is complemented by the Programa Nós por Elas (empowering female graduates through communication training and radio program production), the Programa Boas Práticas (training rural teachers with the institute's methodological tools), and the Programa de Acompanhamento de Egressos (providing continued support and leadership opportunities for program graduates). Together, these programs form a comprehensive ecosystem addressing education, gender equity, professional development, and community empowerment for rural youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Programa Nós por Elas – A voz feminina do campo: Program addressing gender issues in rural areas, promoting awareness of women's roles and preparing young women to become multipliers of reflections and knowledge for rural youth through radio programs.
• Programa Boas Práticas de Empreendedorismo para a Educação

Products and services

• Programa de Aprendizagem Profissional Rural Pioneering professional rural apprenticeship program for youth aged 14-17 delivering 800 hours of training in rural management and entrepreneurship over approximately one year. Participants are formally employed by associated tobacco companies under Brazil's Youth Apprenticeship Law, earning proportional wages (20 hours/week) while attending the course in the opposite school shift at rural schools in their home communities, and receiving official certification upon completion.
• Programa Nós por Elas - A voz feminina do campo Gender empowerment and communication program for female graduates of the Rural Apprenticeship Program. Conducted in partnership with UNISC, participants develop communication, research, and leadership skills by producing radio programs on gender issues in rural areas, becoming multipliers of reflection and knowledge for other rural youth.
• Programa Boas Práticas de Empreendedorismo para a Educação Teacher training and multiplier program that shares the institute's authorial methodology with rural school teachers. Topics include self-knowledge, empathy, communication, technology, innovation, observation, and organization. Teachers receive remote support from reference educators and present best practices at an annual showcase (Mostra de Boas Práticas Pedagógicas).
• Programa de Acompanhamento de Egressos Post-program support initiative providing ongoing learning, leadership development, and project execution support for graduates of the Rural Professional Apprenticeship Program. Alumni participate in major agricultural fairs (Expoagro, Expointer), perform at SindiTabaco and Afubra seminars, and contribute to radio productions for the Nós por Elas program.

Quantifiable outcome

• 80% of alumni expanded their knowledge in rural management and entrepreneurship
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered supporting, core and flagship.

• Thêma Consultoria e MarketingsupportingImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2026Thêma Consultoria facilitated the 2026 Seminar of Integration and Reflection with Partners, with consultants Ana Paula Malavolta and Thelmo Borchhardt conducting sessions on 'Adolescence(s): connections, care, and challenges in the digital world' and providing 'Artificial Intelligence in pedagogical practice: how to use it ethically' training for the institute's team.
• Universidade de Santa Cruz do Sul (UNISC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017UNISC has been the principal partner of the Nós por Elas program since its first edition in 2017. The university's Communication courses provide professionals who mentor and support the young women in producing radio programs. Communication course coordinator Patrícia Schuster oversees the academic component, and the partnership enables the hybrid format combining online sessions with production work at the university campus.
• Associação dos Fumicultores do Brasil (Afubra)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerAfubra is a key distribution partner for the Nós por Elas radio programs. The radio bulletins produced by young women participants are broadcast through Afubra's radio network, reaching rural communities across Southern Brazil. Afubra also hosts SindiTabaco seminars where program participants perform.
• SindiTabaco (Sindicato Interestadual da Indústria do Tabaco)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerSindiTabaco is the founding parent organization of Instituto Crescer Legal. The institute is an initiative of SindiTabaco and its associated companies, developed with support from individuals and entities involved in education and combating child labor. SindiTabaco also organizes annual awareness seminars where alumni participate.
• Associated Tobacco Companies (Philip Morris Brasil, BAT Brasil, JTI, Alliance One, and others)flagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerTobacco companies associated with SindiTabaco fund the apprenticeship program by hiring youth as apprentices under Brazil's Youth Apprenticeship Law. The companies pay apprentices' wages while the youth attend the Rural Management and Entrepreneurship course. The program allows companies to fulfill their Youth Apprenticeship quotas while supporting their local communities.
• Municipal Education Secretariats (25 municipalities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMunicipal governments across Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, and Paraná provide support through their education secretariats, making rural schools available as learning centers, providing facilities for program delivery, and formalizing partnerships through Termo de Colaboração agreements. The institute operates in rural communities across municipalities including Vera Cruz, Santa Cruz do Sul, Canoinhas, Itaiópolis, São João do Triunfo, and others.
• Instituto BAT Brasil (Novos Rurais Program)supportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Novos Rurais program, developed by Instituto BAT Brasil in partnership with Instituto Crescer Legal, provides additional support to program alumni. Graduate Beatriz Max was selected for this program, receiving resources to implement a solar energy project on her family farm after developing the proposal during her apprenticeship.
• IDIS – Instituto para o Desenvolvimento do Investimento SocialsupportingOthersIDIS conducted a social impact assessment of the Rural Professional Learning Program in 2025. The study found that 80% of alumni expanded their rural management knowledge, 74% increased networks, 72% identified new opportunities, 49% expressed greater interest in remaining in rural areas, and 48% showed greater willingness for family farm succession.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian nonprofit focused on improving public secondary education and youth development outcomes. Comparable as a similarly structured nonprofit operating in the Brazilian education/youth development space with broader program scope than Instituto Crescer Legal.
• Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Bradesco: One of Brazil's largest corporate foundations, running its own network of vocational schools and youth professional training programs. Comparable as a much larger incumbent offering vocational/professional education to Brazilian youth, including rural populations.
• Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Roberto Marinho: Major Brazilian education foundation producing curricula, teacher training, and youth-skills programs nationwide. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the same education-and-youth-development nonprofit space, with analogous teacher-multiplier methodology components.
• Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Ita\u00fa Social: Brazilian corporate foundation supporting education, youth, and social development initiatives. Comparable as a larger incumbent operating in the same Brazilian nonprofit education/social-development space with similar CSR-rooted funding model.

Emerging players

• CIEDS: Brazilian nonprofit focused on youth development, education, and social inclusion programs. Comparable as a smaller emerging player in the same Brazilian youth-education nonprofit space with overlapping target demographics and program methodologies.

Direct peers

• Instituto Alana: Brazilian nonprofit advocating for children's rights and well-being, with programs in education, play, and child development. Comparable in mission focus on child welfare and education, and in operating as an issue-advocacy nonprofit within Brazil.
• Funda\u00e7\u00e3o Abrinq pelos Direitos da Crian\u00e7a e do Adolescente: Brazilian nonprofit focused on promoting children's and adolescents' rights, including education and prevention of child labor. Comparable in mission overlap (child welfare + youth education) and Brazilian non-profit operating model targeting similar age demographics.
• Associa\u00e7\u00e3o Brasileira das Empresas de Aprendizagem: National association representing companies offering Youth Apprenticeship programs under Brazil's Lei da Aprendizagem. Directly comparable as the institutional ecosystem in which Instituto Crescer Legal operates its apprenticeship model.
• SENAR - Servi\u00e7o Nacional de Aprendizagem Rural: Brazil's national rural professional learning service, funded by the rural employer sector to deliver vocational training and apprenticeship programs to rural workers and youth. Directly comparable as the largest provider of rural professional apprenticeship in Brazil, sharing both the apprenticeship-law foundation and the rural-youth target audience with Instituto Crescer Legal.

Others

• Rep\u00f3rter Brasil: Brazilian investigative journalism organization specialized in labor and human rights issues, including documentation of child labor in supply chains. Comparable as an adjacent ecosystem actor addressing the same root problem (child labor in rural Brazil) through a different intervention model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/instituto-crescer-legal

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Instituto Crescer Legal