PAFI - School
More than 200 pupils from underprivileged backgrounds have the opportunity to attend a daycare, kinder garden and primary school from the age of four and thus create a solid basis for their future.
In recent years, the activities have continuously been expanded thanks to donors and the great commitment of the volunteers on-site.
The school offers the following:
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Pre-school & primary school
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200 children from 4-10 years old
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16 classes in 2 shifts (morning, afternoon)
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1 teacher + 1 assistant per class
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1 warm meal per day
The school is always at full capacity due to high demand. Children from Burietá itself are given priority. There is a waiting list for children from the surrounding hamlets. However, due to the high demand, children are often turned away, and they end up attending another school within the Teolândia municipality.
The high demand is attributed to the fact that the quality of education at this school far surpasses that of the surrounding schools. The school administration, teachers, and staff form a well-coordinated team, emphasizing not only knowledge but also ethical and moral aspects of community living.
In 2021, the school achieved a score of 7.0 in the National School Assessment. This marks an improvement of 0.5 points within two years, making it comparable to the educational level of a school in an industrialized nation or a private school in Brazil. The school administration and teachers take great pride in this achievement and are dedicated to preparing the students as optimally as possible for this year's school assessment.
Notably, the school also integrates a significant number of children with various disabilities into regular classrooms. Nearly 40 children have conditions such as dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, ADD, autism, Trisomy 21, or other symptoms that can significantly affect their learning. The inclusion of these children requires a tremendous effort and great flexibility from the school team.
In January 2022, thanks to a generous donation from a non-publicly disclosed organization based in Zurich, the construction of a covered sports and recreation area was initiated. This marked the realization of a long-cherished dream.
The construction has since been completed (refer to the construction documentation film). Teachers and children are already actively using the sports facility, and the covered area has served its purpose for various public events and celebrations.
We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to all donors and to the numerous institutions that made this project possible, for their generous financial support.
Documentation video about the construction
News from school
September 2025
Active use of the support room
The new support room for students with special needs is in high demand, and the children benefit from the competent supervision of the teachers, who regularly attend professional development courses to ensure they can provide targeted support for such children. The specially equipped room cares for almost 40 children suffering from dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, ADD, autism, Down syndrome, or other symptoms that can severely impair learning.
May 2025
Ball catcher mounted
The long-awaited ball stop has finally been installed at the covered sports and recreation area, preventing balls from landing in the neighbors' gardens. The ball stop allows the area to be used even more effectively as a sports field – outside of school hours, also by the community and local clubs. There is no comparable facility in the surrounding area. The construction of the sports and recreation area can thus be considered complete. Many thanks to all the donors who made this project, which is enormous for our size, possible.
September 2024
PAFI improves school quality once again
The PAFI school achieved a score of 7.1 points on the latest Ideb test, marking its fifth consecutive improvement in 2023. The Basic Education Development Index (Ideb) was established in 2007 to set educational quality goals. The index ranges from 0 to 10 and serves as a tool for monitoring quality objectives for basic education, with a target average of 6 - a value that corresponds to a high-quality education system comparable to those in developed countries.
February 2024
Inauguration of the Support Room for Special Needs
Due to the increasing number of students with special needs, the establishment of a correspondingly equipped support room became necessary. Currently, approximately 40 children with dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, ADD, autism, Down syndrome, or other symptoms that significantly affect learning, attend our school. Consequently, teachers have recently attended various training sessions in this regard.
September 2023
The porta em porta - semeando valores
In September, as part of the "From Door to Door" project, Sinorette visited the families of the children to get a closer look at their daily lives and engage in conversations with the families. Sinorette was warmly welcomed everywhere, and the families greatly appreciated this direct contact. At the same time, individual classes set out to visit their classmates at their homes.
Video: Sinorette visits the families
October 2023
Festa do esquisito
The "Festival of the Strange" took place for the second time. The goal is to dress as uniquely, colorfully, and oddly as possible. The festival offers a variety of activities for students and their families. Everyone contributes to this celebration, whether it's through a homemade delicacy or a performance. For the first time, a larger event could be held on the newly constructed covered sports field, adding an extra charm to the occasion.
August 2023
Alessandro visiting PAFI
After a significant amount of time, this summer, Alessandro had the chance to travel to Burietá once more and engage in discussions with those in charge on-site. His visit was filled with positive experiences and served to strengthen trust. Alessandro received a warm and hospitable reception and actively immersed himself in the daily life of the community. In addition to visiting the school and the retirement home, he also paid visits to former students and was invited into the homes of some families.
