Since its creation in 2022, the mission of the Tellescom Foundation has been to make a tangible contribution to building a fairer country through two essential and interdependent pillars: quality education and dignified housing.
We believe that it is impossible to transform the reality of thousands of Brazilians without ensuring basic conditions for development. Children can better enjoy the learning process if they have decent housing conditions. Teachers with ongoing training can be more innovative. And communities can thrive with adequate infrastructure and opportunities.
Therefore, throughout 2024, our projects focused on promoting structural solutions, with results already visible in different regions of the country—and with the potential for replication at scale.
The Brazilian challenge: data that moves us
Brazil’s reality is still marked by profound inequalities. In public education, the numbers are alarming, according to the 2022 PISA results, released by INEP (National Institute of Educational Studies and Research Anísio Teixeira):
- 73% of Brazilian students do not reach a basic level of mathematics.
- 50% do not master basic reading skills.
- Only 7% of young people reach university.
In the field of housing, according to the 2022 IBGE Demographic Census (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), approximately 16.4 million Brazilians live in favelas and urban communities—8.1% of the total population. Regional inequalities are also reflected in this data: the Southeast concentrates the absolute majority of the population in these areas, while the North has the highest proportional percentage (18.9%).
These numbers guide our decisions and reinforce our commitment to actions with collective impact.
Education: open doors to the future
In 2024, we strengthened partnerships with public school systems and strategic institutions to transform the reality of educators and students. Highlights of the year:
Manaus (AM)
In partnership with the Municipal Department of Education (SEMED), we conducted a skills assessment of municipal school teachers, supported the structuring of a robust training portfolio, and created a new makerspace for teacher training, connected to the Brazilian Creative Learning Network (linked to the MIT Media Lab).
- 500 schools benefited
- 13,000 teachers involved
- 220,000 students impacted
São Paulo (CEU Parque Bristol)
We supported the implementation of a practical and replicable STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) teaching model, focusing on teacher training and the reorganization of innovative pedagogical spaces.
Pedagogical Innovation Course
We provide training in educational technologies, with modules on Artificial Intelligence, the BNCC (National Common Curricular Base) Computing Curriculum, and maker culture, all aligned with 21st-century skills.
ESG in Sports
In partnership with Centro Paula Souza and Fatec Esportes, we developed a course to integrate sustainability principles (ESG) into the training of students in sports-related programs.
In partnership with the Sérgio Henrique Ferreira Chair (USP)
We have advanced the use of data for public education policies in cities such as Manaus and João Pessoa, contributing to evidence-based decisions.
AI Think Tank in Education
In collaboration with NEES (UFAL) and IA.Edu, we established a research center and launched the first Technical Note on Generative AI in Education, focusing on practices applicable to Basic Education.
Dignified housing: transforming territories and communities
Our commitment to dignified housing took shape with the development of an implementation methodology that places education at the center of the process, ensuring the sustainability of actions across different territories, always in partnership with the government and other civil society organizations.
Actions carried out in 2024:
Manaus (AM)
- Establishment of a Social Urbanism Management Center
- Mapping of vulnerabilities and selection of priority territories
- Over 300 field interviews with residents
- Proposal submitted to the city government with an action plan
São Paulo (SP)
Partnership with Diagonal organization and 20 other institutions to support the Social Urbanism Program in four vulnerable territories: Pinheirinho D’Água, Parque Novo Mundo, Jardim Lapenna, and Jardim Pantanal.
Results:
- Replicable methodology developed
- Participatory diagnosis carried out
- First urban redevelopment projects initiated
- Focus on Early Childhood with a new management model for CEUs
Palhoça (SC)
In the Frei Damião community, we contributed to structuring a portfolio of transformative projects with a 5-year horizon.
- 50 indicators monitored
- 57 organizations involved
- 7 development axes
And in 2025, we continue implementing initiatives that contribute to Brazil’s development:
In 2025, the Tellescom Foundation have already established a national and international Advisory Board, which will strengthen our strategies and partnerships. The goal is to expand projects, form new cooperation networks, and further engage private sector stakeholders in the movement for a more egalitarian and sustainable Brazil.
We remain convinced that education and housing go hand in hand. Where there is structure, there is permanence. Where there is training, there is opportunity. Where there is dignity, there is transformation.
Learn more about the Tellescom Foundation and follow our upcoming deliveries.