Brazuca Academy
Código Brazuca began in 2021 with a cohort of 20 young people from the Morro da Providência, São Cristóvão, and Raiz da Serra communities. The project initially focused on teaching game programming to youths aged 14 to 17, with a six-month training program. In August 2022, the first cohort graduated, with around 12 students completing the course. Two of them entered the job market, though most were under 18, limiting immediate employment opportunities.
In the same year, 2022, the project shifted its focus to Web3 technologies, aiming to enhance employability for young people from underserved communities in Rio de Janeiro. The course revealed many challenges, which were taken into account and served as the foundation for 2023—a year of significant changes in our methodology and the application of new ideas.
In March 2023, we sought partnerships with market companies and secured a significant one with Transfero Group, which supported the Código Brazuca initiative. In June, we launched a new cohort of students aged 18+, aiming to prepare them for the Web3 job market through an eight-month training program. The cohort included 20 selected participants (from about 120 applicants), coming from communities such as Chapadão, São Carlos, Baixada Fluminense, Jacaré, and Cabuçu. Of the 15 who completed the course, the employability rate was approximately 80%, with 12 students finding employment.
In 2024, we submitted a proposal to the Polkadot blockchain, which was approved for an eight-month training program focused on their technologies. We formed an online class of approximately 500 students and an in-person group of 20. Our online students came from various parts of Brazil and the world, including Portugal, France, Switzerland, Angola, and the United States. Although the course was developer-focused, professionals from other fields, such as DEVOPS, marketing, and business, also emerged.
Our Culture and Methodology
We select individuals from vulnerable, low-income communities and surrounding areas, enrolling them in professional training programs that last from 6 to 10 months. Throughout this journey, participants learn programming logic, Python programming, financial education, family planning, market types, personal and corporate soft skills, entrepreneurship, study techniques, emerging technologies, and most importantly, Web3 with a focus on blockchain.
Our approach is based on three pillars:
Social inclusion and access to knowledge: By empowering individuals in vulnerable situations, we promote equal opportunities and foster talent development in technology and finance.
Preparing for the future job market: With a focus on Web3 and blockchain, we train professionals to work in high-demand sectors with significant growth potential.
Comprehensive skill development: Beyond technical skills, our programs include financial education, interpersonal skills, and personal planning, equipping students to face both personal and professional challenges.
Our project aims to reduce social inequality by providing young people in vulnerable situations with access to a technology education that would otherwise be out of reach, promoting real and dignified employability. In the medium term, we aim to establish an open university, allowing us to scale the training to at least 200 professionals per year.
More than just technical training, our program incorporates a human-centered education, focusing on the development of interpersonal skills essential for life and the workplace. To ensure full access, we provide transportation and meals for all students, who attend 100% in-person classes in our dedicated lab.
Interested in collaborating or helping our community? Contact us! We’d be happy to partner with companies and institutions that wish to support our project.
