Projeto UERÊ

What Projeto UERÊ does

Projeto UERÊ is a Brazilian nonprofit (ONG) social education organization operating in the Complexo da Maré, the largest favela complex in Rio de Janeiro (16 favelas, ~139,000 inhabitants). Founded in 1980 by Yvonne Bezerra de Mello as "Escola Sem Portas Nem Janelas" and rebranded to its current identity after relocating to Maré in 1998, the organization serves children and youth ages 5-18 from local public schools who present cognitive and emotional blockages linked to trauma and chronic violence exposure. It currently serves 270 beneficiaries and has served 3,100+ since 1998, with 1,189 scholarship placements to private schools (21 in 2024 alone). The full program suite comprises specialised teaching (Ensino Especializado, from early childhood through high school), an extracurricular stack (UERÊ ARTE, UERÊ TEC, UERÊ LITERATURA VIVA library launched 2025, Camerata UERÊ string orchestra, UERÊ GOL football), a career exposure program (UERÊ EMPRESARIAL / Bate-papo UERÊ), and three daily meals.

The organization's core technology is the proprietary Pedagogia UERÊ-MELLO, a classroom management methodology developed over 30+ years of research with approximately 7,000 children on Rio de Janeiro streets and favelas. It addresses cognitive functions (memory, focus, spoken and written language, attention, concentration, reasoning, logic, reading, analytical reasoning, mathematics) and trauma recovery, and has been applied to over 130,000 children and shared with more than 10,000 teachers across Brazilian states through in-person and online training courses, plus published books. The program architecture is a single integrated site model rather than a multi-tenant platform: all services are delivered from the Maré headquarters, with online presence limited to donation collection and teacher-training dissemination.

The revenue model is donation-based with no traditional commercial revenue. Recurring individual sponsorship tiers are priced at R$450/month per child (with up to 3 daily meals), R$1,335/month per private-school scholarship, and R$44,760/year per education quota (funding one teacher's full-time attention to two classes of 20 students). Additional revenue streams include one-time donations and Lei Federal de Incentivo à Cultura tax-incentivized contributions for the Camerata program. Distribution is direct: in-person education at the Maré site and online donation collection via bank transfer (Bradesco), PIX, and credit card. Marketing is community-led, driven by word-of-mouth, social media (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube), and earned media including TV Globo features and Revista Época coverage; the organization also holds the 2024 Prix Fondation Air France.

Name

Projeto UERÊ

Legal name

Projeto UERÊ

Website

https://projetouere.org.br

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Brazilian nonprofit social education organization founded in 1980, operating in Rio de Janeiro's Maré favela complex, providing specialized teaching, extracurricular activities, and private school scholarships to 270 children and youth ages 5-18 using its proprietary Pedagogia UERÊ-MELLO methodology.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Education Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Newcomer & Refugee Student Support Programs (EDAJAGAH)

Keywords

• Social education programs
• Community education services
• Youth education initiatives
• Specialized teaching methodology
• Educational social projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Rio De Janeiro

HQ country

Brazil

HQ region

Latin America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Sponsorship (Apadrinhamento): Monthly donations of R$ 450.00 per month to sponsor a child, providing after-school care and up to 3 daily meals
2. Study Grants (Bolsa de Estudos): Monthly contributions of R$ 1,335.00 to fund private school education for children who demonstrated excellence, including uniforms, shoes, books, school materials, school events, transportation, and meals
3. Education Quota (Cota de Educação): Annual donation of R$ 44,760 to fund one teacher's full-time attention to two classes of 20 students in different shifts, including all benefits from sponsorship
4. One-time Donations: Variable value single contributions to maintain operations and train children from the Maré favela
5. Federal Culture Incentive Law Donations: Up to 6% of Income Tax can be directed to support the Camerata UERÊ program through Lei Federal de Incentivo à Cultura

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Projeto UERÊ operates a nonprofit alternative school in Rio de Janeiro's Complexo da Maré favela, delivering trauma-informed specialized education to children and youth ages 5-18 using its proprietary Pedagogia UERÊ-MELLO methodology. The offering combines formal educational tutoring, three daily meals, a multidisciplinary extracurricular suite (arts, music, IT/UE\u00ca TEC, soccer/UE\u00ca GOL, library/UE\u00ca Literatura Viva, career talks), and a private-school scholarship program (Bolsas de Estudo) for high-performing students.

Product overview

Projeto UERÊ is a social education initiative in Rio de Janeiro's Maré favela operating as a single integrated program rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core offerings consist of specialized teaching (Ensino Especializado) for children ages 5–18 with cognitive and emotional trauma from violence, complemented by the Pedagogia UERÊ-MELLO methodology (also offered as teacher training courses and books), and a scholarship program (Bolsas de Estudo) placing top students in private schools. The extracurricular activities suite (Atividades Extras) includes UERÊ TEC (computing), UERÊ ARTE (art), Camerata UERÊ (string orchestra), UERÊ GOL (soccer), UERÊ Literatura Viva (reading room/library), and Bate-papo UERÊ/UERÊ EMPRESARIAL (career talks). These programs collectively provide daily meals, academic support, cultural enrichment, and pathways to private education for at-risk youth.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Pedagogia Uerê-Mello: A unique teaching methodology developed by Projeto UERÊ for children with cognitive and emotional blockages due to trauma and violence exposure. Over 30 years of research, applied to approximately 7,000 children and shared with over 10,000 teachers across Brazil.

Products and services

• Ensino Especializado Specialized teaching program covering early childhood education through high school for children and youth aged 5-18 with learning difficulties, using the Pedagogia UER\u00ca-MELLO methodology to address cognitive and emotional blockages. Includes three daily meals (breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack) and covers core subjects such as Portuguese, mathematics, history, geography, sciences, and languages.
• Pedagogia UER\u00ca-MELLO Proprietary teaching methodology for children with cognitive and emotional blockages caused by trauma from violence exposure. Address memory, focus, spoken and written language, associations, attention, concentration, reasoning speed, logic, reading, analytical reasoning, mathematics, and behavior. Sold to schools and educators via in-person and online training courses, plus published materials.
• Bolsas de Estudo Scholarship program enabling students who demonstrated excellence at Projeto UER\u00ca to attend private schools, including uniforms, shoes, books, school materials, school events, transportation, and meals. Funded by individuals, foundations, and companies through dedicated study grants (bolsas de estudo).
• UERE Literatura Viva Living Literature reading room and library program that complements the UER\u00ca-MELLO teaching methodology. Serves 270 children and youth ages 6-17 in 30-minute rotations using reading and literacy activities.
• UERE TEC Information technology program teaching children to use software including Paint, Paint3D, Typing Master, Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Filmora, and programming skills (Front End and Back End Programming), along with PC assembly and maintenance and educational games such as Minecraft, Subway Surf, Silabando, Arie, and Virtual Reality.
• UERE ARTE Art program offering playful and innovative workshops with a contemporary vision of art and culture, integrated into the general learning cycle. Uses artistic expression as a catalyst for student uniqueness and learning recovery.
• Camerata UERE String orchestra of 12 members developed through the music program started in 2013. Performs approximately 20 concerts per year in Brazil and internationally, supported through Federal Culture Incentive Law (Lei Federal de Incentivo \u00e0 Cultura) donations.
• UERE GOL Soccer school focused on teamwork, sportsmanship, and coordination, aligned with the UER\u00ca-Mello pedagogy. Originated from social-tourism preparation for the World Cup and has operated continuously since 2013.
• Bate-papo UERE e UERE EMPRESARIAL Speaker series and company-visit program that connects adolescents with industry specialists for online or in-person talks and workplace visits, exposing them to future study and career paths and complementing the formal curriculum and extracurriculars.

Quantifiable outcome

• 270 children and youth currently enrolled; 3,100+ total since 1998; 1,189 scholarship recipients to private schools; 10,000+ teachers trained; 21 students on scholarship in 2024; Camerata UERÊ performs 20 concerts/year

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and major.

• FiocruzminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014Featured in 'A Pororoca dos corais' collaboration with Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation), Brazilian public health research institution.
• Association Notes En CouleursmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013French association founded by Anne Constance Despretz, French violinist who started the music program in 2013. President of the association is dedicated to musicalizing children through violin practice.
• Rotary ClubminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner organization supporting project activities.
• Lumar ContábilminorOthersAccounting firm providing financial reporting services.
• Instituto BejaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner institute supporting project activities.
• Mesa Brasil (SESC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood bank program partnership providing food supplies for the 3 daily meals served to children.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights10 records

Broad incumbents

• Instituto Ayrton Senna: Large Brazilian nonprofit focused on public-school education and youth development. Comparable to Projeto UERÊ as a fellow Brazilian education NGO working with at-risk youth, but operating at national scale with a broader portfolio rather than a single favela-based methodology.
• Fundação Roberto Marinho: Large Brazilian education and culture foundation producing curriculum, teacher training, and youth programs. Comparable as a peer in teacher-training infrastructure and education content for at-risk youth, but at much wider national scope.
• Instituto Natura: Brazilian nonprofit focused on education and social development, particularly in low-income regions. Comparable as a peer in K–12 education and youth empowerment for vulnerable populations, with a broader geographic footprint than Projeto UERÊ.
• UNICEF Brazil: UN agency funding and partnering with education programs for vulnerable children in Brazil. Comparable as a partner or alternative funder for trauma-informed, at-risk youth education programming similar to Projeto UERÊ's mission.
• Instituto Unibanco: Brazilian nonprofit focused on public secondary-school management and youth skills. Comparable as a Brazilian education NGO, though its model is system-level school partnerships rather than direct delivery inside a favela.
• Fundação Lemann: Major Brazilian education foundation focused on school quality and youth leadership. Comparable as a fellow Brazilian education nonprofit targeting public-system beneficiaries, but funds and partners with municipalities rather than running direct-service sites.

Emerging players

• Atados: Brazilian platform connecting individuals and companies to social-impact volunteering and donations, including education-focused NGOs. Comparable as a channel for fundraising and volunteer engagement, though it operates as a marketplace rather than a direct service provider.

Regional players

• Associação Cidade Escola Aprendiz: São Paulo-based nonprofit integrating education, culture, and community development in vulnerable urban territories. Comparable to Projeto UERÊ as a regional Brazilian nonprofit using a complementary education/community model, but operating in São Paulo rather than Rio de Janeiro.

Direct peers

• CUFA (Central Única das Favelas): Brazilian social organization providing education, culture, sports, and digital inclusion across hundreds of favelas. Direct peer to Projeto UERÊ as a community-based education and youth-development organization serving Maré-adjacent populations with comparable cultural-sports programs.
• Gerando Falcões: Brazilian nonprofit operating inside favelas with integrated education, sports, and citizenship programs. Direct peer to Projeto UERÊ because it delivers complementary education and social programs to at-risk children in Brazilian favelas, with a similar multi-program stack.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCV-Abj5eSgjG5BO1IE_0bmA/featured
• Facebookfacebook.com/ProjetoUere
• Instagraminstagram.com/projetouereoficial

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Projeto UERÊ