In 2018, EduMais volunteer Anna Bowman sparked a simple, powerful idea: combine English learning with hands-on entrepreneurship so students can imagine—and build—what comes next.

Today, that idea is a practical course where young people from Rio’s favelas turn curiosity into capability, and capability into opportunity.

Favelas are often described only by risk. We see something else too: creativity, resilience, and a strong entrepreneurial drive.

Our program channels that energy into real skills—so students can design ventures of their own or help strengthen a family business.

Across two-hour weekly sessions, students learn the essentials of the Business Model Canvas (BMC) and apply each block to real projects—starting from “What is entrepreneurship?” and moving into structured planning and evaluation.

They study real cases (e.g., family business, own business), interview entrepreneurs, and map what makes a founder’s mindset different from an employee’s.

Business Model Canvas

From there, they practise core BMC building blocks:
Customer Segments & Value Proposition—identifying who they serve and the value they create.
Channels & Customer Relationships, plus market research using qualitative and quantitative methods.
Revenue thinking and a written marketing proposition.
MVP mindset, Key Resources/Activities/Partnerships to move from idea to operation.

Pitching & Finance Basics

Costs & basic finance, supported by a guest finance professional.

Students then choose a path: build a personal project or act as consultants to an existing (often family) business—using the BMC to improve outcomes. They present their canvas, receive feedback, refine, and practise their pitch. Sessions may also include ethics and legal matters with community lawyers.

The journey culminates in final presentations—with awards and diplomas—in front of entrepreneurs and partners.