Education
Turma do Jiló: Real Inclusion Transforms Brazilian Education
Discover how Turma do Jiló revolutionizes inclusive education and empowers millions of Brazilians with disabilities.
Turma do Jiló is an award-winning non-profit organization dedicated to building bridges for a more just and welcoming society. They address the inclusion of people with disabilities by empowering school communities and transforming realities. Learn about the impact of this essential work in Brazil.
Turma do Jiló, recognized with the 2018 Visionaris Award from UBS Bank, is an inclusive ecosystem that believes in the potential of every individual. Operating as a non-profit organization, its goal is to transform the reality of Inclusive Education and Diversity in Brazilian schools and companies. However, to understand the depth of their work, one must first examine the persistent challenges.
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The Challenge of Inclusion in Brazil: Numbers and Realities
In Brazil, 45 million people live with some type of disability, and an alarming statistic reveals that nearly 80% of them are not economically active. This points to a systemic failure in providing opportunities for learning and developing autonomy. Formal education often does not prepare professionals to deal with this reality. Teachers graduate from university without any specific training to work with students with special needs.
In addition to the lack of preparation, communication barriers exist. While Libras interpreters are available for the deaf, for other disabilities, information and understanding often do not reach the student. The most delicate situation, however, is that of “exclusion within inclusion”. There have been cases where classrooms with 30 students with disabilities operated separately from the regular school, a scenario that the Turma do Jiló project arrived to demystify and modify, proving that it is indeed possible to work in a truly inclusive way.
Turma do Jiló's Transformative Solution
Turma do Jiló operates on the fundamental premise that everyone has potential. To realize this vision, the organization develops comprehensive training programs. They engage with all stakeholders in the school community: teachers, staff, parents, and, of course, the students themselves. This holistic approach allows them to profile each school and understand its specific inclusion needs.
Partnerships with Secretariats of Education are considered paramount, and rightly so. After all, 96% of children with some type of disability are enrolled in public schools. By training these professionals and involving the entire community, Turma do Jiló aims to break down barriers and transform perceptions about inclusion, demonstrating that dealing with diversity is a skill that can be developed by everyone.
Genuine Impact and Societal Gains
The results of Turma do Jiló's work are tangible and inspiring. In the public schools where they have operated, there has been a considerable decrease in school dropout rates. Furthermore, complaints registered with the Public Prosecutor's Office related to inclusion have virtually ceased, a strong indicator of the effectiveness and positive change they generate.
The impact, however, extends far beyond the school environment. It is a gain for society as a whole. Where every individual is capable of making their contribution — whether at school, at home, in the family, in a future workplace, and in the entire community. Turma do Jiló not only provides training; it promotes a true life transformation, building a future where no one is left behind.
Join Turma do Jiló's journey and be part of this transformation, building a more just and equitable future for everyone. After all, when education is inclusive, society as a whole advances.
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