Graduation of the Coppe Literacy Project celebrates accomplishments and transformations

On December 4th, at Coppe’s auditorium located in block G-122 of UFRJ’s Technology Center, a special celebration was held: the graduation of the 2024 class of the Youth, Adult and Elderly Literacy Project. In a moving ceremony, graduates, family members and teachers celebrated the stories of overcoming adversity and the transforming impact of this initiative.

Created in 2005 by Íris Guardatti, from Coppe’s Social development Office, with the support of professor Angela Uller, the project has as its mission to offer a second chance to those who didn’t have the opportunity to finish their primary education or wish to resume studying after years of being away from the school environment. Aimed to UFRJ employees and residents of Ilha do Fundão, the program also fosters integration between different university areas, with the support of intern monitors from various academic units.

Among the graduates is José Carlos Santos, 54 years old, leader of general services at Nova Rio, an outsourced company that operates at Coppe. He shared his life story and the transformation brought by the Literacy Project: “I came from Bahia to Rio de Janeiro 40 years ago. When I was a child, I had to work in the fields, weeding and harvesting cocoa, which prevented me from studying. It was a difficult life. After I started studying here, I had the opportunity to become a foreman. I was able to learn what I didn’t know. This helped me evolve a lot at work and in my personal life. Today, I am proud of the path I have taken and of what I accomplished. I want to keep studying. With the Digital Appropriation classes, I learned how to use cellphones and computers and want to move forward so, in the future, I can become a supervisor  or contract manager. We always need to keep evolving.”

Another graduate, Janete Moreira, 56 years old,a cleaning assistant at Nova Rio, also shared her experience: “I started working very early and, because of that, I hadn’t studied. It was my children who convinced me to start studying. Today I regret not having started studying earlier. Now, my dream is to become self-employed and retire with dignity.”

Coppe’ Science Outreach Director, Cleide Lima, highlighted the importance of the project during her speech: “The Literacy Project is more than an educational program. It symbolizes the integration between the university and its community, while also responding to one of the Sustainable Development Goals, which is Quality Education.”.

Vanda Borges, Coppe’s Director for Personnel Management, reinforced the program’s role as a tool for social transformation. “The Literacy Project is a clear example of how education can strengthen citizenship and transform realities,” she stated.

Fátima Bacelar, one of the project’s creators, paid tribute to the graduates and acknowledged the collective effort of everyone involved. “You are proof that it is never too late to learn. Each step taken by each of you is a testament to the transformative power of knowledge,” she declared.

The class of 2024, made up of students who bring inspiring stories, reaffirms Coppe/UFRJ’s commitment to inclusion and social impact. The university thus positions itself as a welcoming place with opportunities for all, celebrating education as a universal right.Congratulations to our 2024 class graduates:
● Wallace dos Santos, 33 years old, morador da Vila Residencial;
● Maria Isabel de Oliveira, 66 years old, moradora da Vila Residencial;
● Maria de Fátima Flor, 71 years old, moradora da Vila Residencial;
● Josélia Passos, 66 years old, moradora da Vila Residencial;
● Janete Moreira, 56 years old, auxiliar de limpeza da Nova Rio como;
● José Carlos Santos, 54 years old, líder de serviços gerais da Nova Rio:
● Jorge da Silva, 40 years old, auxiliar de limpeza da Nova Rio.