Today, February 9, 2026, we, EduMais, open these doors to a physical space of education, built on our belief that learning only flourishes where there is belonging and significance. EduMais began with the conviction that every child is unique—that each holds a universe of potential, yearning to connect and to contribute. We stand on the shoulders of giants like Paulo Freire, who taught us that education changes people so they can change the world. We are guided by Martin Luther King Jr.’s call for intelligence plus character, and by the Positive Discipline understanding that a child who feels belonging has no need for misbehavior—only for engagement. Here, we practice EduMais—education plus dignity, plus dialogue. Educating is an act of love, a “heart to heart” commitment to ensuring every young person knows: You are part of us, and you have the power to build a better world. This is our promise, made tangible within these walls.

Our History and the Legacy of EduMais

EduMais was born from a clear, urgent necessity: to support the brilliant young people in our communities and to bridge the gap between their immense talent and the opportunities of the world. We saw a system where too many were left behind, lacking the 21st-century skills needed to navigate and transform their own futures.

But our story is also one of profound evolution. We began in 2016 as a volunteer project—an external hand extended. True empowerment, however, is not about doing for; it is about enabling from within. Today, EduMais stands proudly as a community-led organization. It is young people—educated and rooted here—who are now taking education into their own hands. This is our answer to inequality: not charity, but agency. This legacy connects us to a longer, global story of the African diaspora and liberatory thinkers who understood that the ultimate tool of freedom is a taught, critical, and empowered mind.

Our Work Is Guided by Pillars of Wisdom from Those Who Walked This Path Before Us

Education as Identity and Empowerment  

We build with the conviction of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who said:  “The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence plus character – that is the goal of true education.”   Here, we nurture not just skills, but whole human beings.

Education as a Tool of Resistance and Memory  

We stand against injustice, guided by the poetic fire of Milton Nascimento:  “Enquanto a cor da pele for mais importante que o brilho dos olhos, haverá guerra.”  Our education fights this war by honoring every child’s unique identity and brilliance, ensuring they are seen for the light they carry.

Education as a Dialogical Practice of Freedom  

At our core, we embrace the humble, revolutionary practice of Paulo Freire:  “Ninguém ignora tudo. Ninguém sabe tudo. Por isso aprendemos sempre.”  Here, teachers are also students, and students are also teachers. We learn with each other.

What We Do and Why We Do It This Way

These pillars are not just words—they are our methodology.

• Because of Martin Luther King, we cultivate critical thinkers with character.
• Because of Nascimento, we create a curriculum that fights racism and nurtures unshakable self-worth.
• Because of Freire, we reject the “banking” model of education. Ours is a dialogue—a conversation between lived experiences, where knowledge is built together.

That is what EduMais truly means: More Education. It is education plus citizenship, plus dignity, plus historical awareness, plus culture, plus love. It is the more that the system leaves out, but that our communities have always possessed.

This new local is the fertile soil where these seeds of wisdom will take root. By educating more children here, we continue the sacred work of ancestors and thinkers. We are preparing for a tomorrow that is more just, more brilliant, and more free.

A Personal Note

I would be lying if I said this was easy. It has been everything but easy. And that is the very beauty of it—the struggle in the process, the joy in the progress, and the humility in witnessing the impact, which fills me with immense gratitude.

I fought for this. I fought for my dreams. And sometimes, reality surpasses the dream. And now, we are living it.

To bring relevant, high-quality 21st-century skills education to a place where it might not have always belonged—but to bring it here by and for the people of these communities—makes me immensely proud.

And at the end of the day, if I were not here to make a difference, why would I be here at all? But it is not only me. It is the full EduMais team, our dedicated board, our generous donors, partners, and sponsors—we are all here for the same purpose: to make a difference and to make our community a brighter place.

As an African proverb reminds us:  

“Tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

Today, here, we prepare.