In classrooms just minutes away from our office in Rio de Janeiro, robots and other technology projects are doing something much bigger than moving across tables. They are helping young students from vulnerable communities imagine futures they may never have thought possible.

Since 2021, Wilhelmsen Ship Management Brazil has been supporting a social initiative that combines digital inclusion, robotics and education to create long-term opportunities for underprivileged youth. What began with a few students has steadily grown into a meaningful programme that now impacts more than 100 students annually at GET Ridalvia Corrêa Public School and changing lives along the way.

Partnering with Brazilian social development organisation Criape, the initiative is part of the “Multiplique o Bem Tech” (Tech for Good) and “Conectados do Bem” (Connected for Good) programmes, which provide after-school workshops focused on robotics, games, animation, apps, design and entrepreneurship for public school students.

Students at GET Ridalvia Corrêa Public School engaged in hands-on learning activities.

For Elcio Bomfim, General Manager of Wilhelmsen Ship Management Brazil, the project is deeply personal.

“I’d like to share an initiative that I’m personally very proud of,” he says. “Since 2021, we have been supporting a social programme here in Brazil. What started small has grown year after year, and we reached an incredible milestone last year of 100 students from vulnerable social backgrounds.”

“We truly believe that even small steps can make a meaningful difference. Our hope is that this programme contributes to real, positive and lasting life changes for the young people we reach.”

The programme targets students aged 9 to 15, many from low-income households, and provides approximately 40 hours of additional learning activities each month throughout the year. Beyond robotics and STEM education, the initiative also supports the students holistically. Lunches are provided to encourage participation, while educators, inspectors, cooks and administrators employed by Criape work together to create a safe and engaging environment for learning.

The educational focus extends beyond technical skills. Students are encouraged to think about how technology can solve real-world problems linked to sustainability and society. In 2025 alone, GET Ridalvia Corrêa students developed 32 final projects connected to four United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

• Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture
• Health and Well-being
• Climate Action
• Life Below Water

A “Zero Hunger and Sustainable Agriculture” project demonstrated by students during the Science Fair Project.

The projects were showcased during a year-end science fair attended by Gabriela Nunes and Daiana Narciso from our Brazil office.

For Gabriela, the experience left a lasting impression. “What touched me most was seeing how proud and confident the students were when presenting their projects,” she says. “You could feel how much dedication they had put into their work, and how excited they were to explain their ideas.”

Daiana was equally inspired by the students’ creativity and determination. “Some of the students were initially shy, but once they started talking about their projects, you could see their confidence grow,” she shares. “It was amazing to witness how technology and education can unlock potential and inspire bigger dreams.”

Gabriela Nunes and Daiana Narciso with the students and teachers at GET Ridalvia Corrêa Public School during the Science Fair Project.

The initiative has continued to expand each year. For 2026, the Wilhelmsen Ship Management supported programme at GET Ridalvia Corrêa is planning to increase enrolment to 115 students, a 15% increase from the previous year.

The broader Criape-led programme currently operates across five public schools through the support of multiple sponsoring companies. The initiative has also gained wider visibility in Brazil through media coverage and social media outreach, helping bring attention to the importance of technological inclusion and equal access to education.

For Elcio, however, the heart of the initiative remains the people behind it — the students and the team supporting them.

“This initiative has been fully embraced by our Brazil team, and you’ll recognise some familiar faces in Criape’s promotional video of the programme,” he says. “Their engagement and commitment are an essential part of this success.”

“You already know how special my team here is. I may be biased, but I couldn’t be prouder of them.”

Students proudly displaying their certificates after completing the technology and digital learning programme at GET Ridalvia Corrêa Public School.

At its core, the initiative reflects a belief that education and opportunity can create ripple effects far beyond the classroom. By investing in digital inclusion and future-ready skills today, our team in Brazil hopes to help nurture a generation that is more confident, capable and connected to a better future.

And sometimes, that future begins with a small robot, a classroom after school, and someone believing that every child deserves the chance to dream bigger.