In the narrow alleys of Rio’s favelas, a quiet revolution is happening—not with protests or headlines, but through pixels, code, and creativity.

In January, during our Serious Game Design Summer Camp, something extraordinary unfolded. A group of underprivileged teenagers—most of whom had never touched a programming tool nor a mouse or a keyboard in their lives—were building games. Not just simple games, but stories, platforms, and challenges that reflected their realities, dreams, and ambitions.

At the heart of this transformation was GDevelop, a free, open-source platform that lets anyone build games—no prior experience needed. It is the perfect tool for our students to experiment, imagine, and learn digital skills in a fun, empowering way.

And right there with them was Jon Williamson, a skilled developer and EduMais volunteer, who immediately recognized something powerful:

“Some of these kids were advancing so quickly that the free version of GDevelop couldn’t keep up with their creativity.”

Jon knew what he was seeing—potential. Raw, untapped, and unstoppable.

Determined to help them grow further, he reached out directly to GDevelop. What happened next was one of those moments that makes you believe in the power of connection.

When Purpose Meets Possibility

Soon after Jon’s message, Marcos Codas, Marketing Lead and Education Liaison for GDevelop, replied. He didn’t just offer support—he shared his own story.

“Twenty years ago, I was a migrant child, sleeping on a damp basement floor between my parents’ bed and a hand-me-down wardrobe. Kind people and organizations like EduMais gave me access to STEAM education. It changed everything.”

His words felt like a mirror of what EduMais stands for: Where you start in life doesn’t have to determine where you end up.

Marcos believed in our students and their potential. He pitched our story directly to GDevelop CEO Florian Rival, and the result?
A full year of access to the professional version of GDevelop for all of our students.

Game Design as a Gateway to the Future

This moment marks a turning point—not just for EduMais, but for the lives of our students.

Back in 2023, during the second edition of our Serious Game Design Summer School (in collaboration with Games for Health), we introduced GDevelop to our students for the first time. The platform’s accessibility made it ideal for our work with youth from low-income communities.

But something magical happened. Those who returned in 2025 were so far ahead that they began to outgrow the limits of the free version. They were building more sophisticated games, tackling complex design challenges, and asking for more.

Now, thanks to GDevelop’s incredible support, we can expand.

We’re launching not only a more advanced Serious Game Design course, but soon—once our new location in PPG opens—we’ll offer a full GDevelop programming course.

Our students will soon be able to develop:
– 🎮 2D and 3D games
– 🌐 Multiplayer online experiences
– 💡 Projects that sharpen creativity, logic, collaboration, and storytelling

Why This Matters

This partnership is more than a tech upgrade—it’s a lifeline to the future.

In today’s world, digital literacy is no longer optional. Yet many of the students in Rio’s favelas grow up without regular internet access, devices, or exposure to the tools that dominate the modern job market. Can you imagine that we had kids who never touched a mouse nor a keyboard.

By teaching them programming through something playful and purpose-driven like game design, we’re giving them more than skills—we’re giving them options. Hope. The power to build something entirely their own.

Thank You, GDevelop

To Jon, Marcos, Alexandre, and the entire team at GDevelop: thank you for believing in the power of young people. Thank you for opening doors that were once invisible to them.

Together, we’re proving that the favelas are full of talent—waiting only for the tools and the trust to shine.

Together, we make a difference 🙏