On September 19th, the João Paulo II Educational Center celebrated an unforgettable milestone: its 25th anniversary. It was an emotional celebration that brought together current and former students, family members, staff, and also featured the presence of the Fondazione Umano Progresso Italia. A true meeting of generations, reliving memories, reconnecting and strengthening ties with the entire community.

Since its founding, the Center’s mission has been to provide comprehensive education for children and adolescents living in the Subúrbio Ferroviário neighborhood of Salvador. Throughout this journey, it has fulfilled dreams, overcome countless challenges, and remained steadfast in its commitment to transforming lives by offering opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom. 

The presentations prepared by the students were a vivid portrait of these 25 years. Among them, the striking memory of the COVID-19 pandemic stood out, as did the difficulties the community faced during social isolation, and the strength of the recovery after the vaccine began to be distributed. The choreography, the classroom simulation, the robotics sessions, and the sports performances, interspersed with videos featuring the speeches of parents and professionals, created a visual passage through time, recreating concerns and victories. Each scene reflected the power of education, art, and sports as paths to social transformation. 

The João Paulo II Educational Center is made up of stories of children, adolescents, and young people who arrived full of dreams and who, over time, found learning, affection, and new possibilities. Many of them were there to celebrate, bringing with them the living proof that the institution’s mission is being fulfilled: to develop protagonists aware of their own future, capable of believing in and fighting for their dreams.

Celebrating 25 years isn´t just about looking back, but also about reaffirming the present and projecting the future. The presence of all partners, students, families, teachers, collaborators and the community, demonstrated that the strength of unity is what keeps alive the transformation that education can generate. 

It has been 25 years of achievement, and this moment made it clear: when education is combined with affection, dreams become possible.