Filmaê & Escrevaê

Cais Impactaê

Filmaê & Escrevaê

Filmaê & Escrevaê challenge students in Brazilian public schools to create films and books inspired by UN's SDGs, fostering creative and life skills.

Salvador, BA, Brasil

BRA

For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models

In Brazil, over 24 million Lower, Middle & High School students are enrolled in public basic education, yet learning inequality remains one of the country’s most urgent challenges. According to UNESCO and UNICEF, more than 50% of Brazilian students finish middle school without basic proficiency in reading or writing. Additionally, the OECD notes that Brazil ranks among the lowest in student engagement and socio-emotional development. Traditional education often disconnects from students’ realities, failing to develop 21st-century skills such as critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. Cais Impactaê tackles this by transforming how students learn in public schools through creative, interdisciplinary, project-based learning inspired by the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our learning programs — Filmaê and Escrevaê — address educational inequality by equipping educators with innovative tools and giving students opportunities to express themselves through storytelling and filmmaking. In just two years, we’ve impacted 170 public schools, 600+ students, and 200+ teachers across 10 Brazilian states, creating 105 social impact creative products. The problem is vast and systemic — but scalable, creative learning experiences can inspire meaningful, long-term change in both local communities and across global educational systems.

We are an impact-driven edtech initiative that creates innovative, curriculum-aligned learning challenges for Brazilian public schools. Our two flagship programs — Filmaê and Escrevaê — are creative, project-based learning experiences where students produce short films and digital books inspired by the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These programs are designed for teachers and students in basic education (lower, middle and high school), integrating active learning methodologies, gamification, and digital tools. Teachers receive a step-by-step guide and access to a digital platform with curated content, creative challenges, pedagogical resources, and professional support via WhatsApp. Students engage in meaningful projects that combine academic content with real-world issues, developing 21st-century skills such as collaboration, empathy, and media literacy. No expensive equipment or complex software is required — we prioritize accessibility and scalability, often using smartphones and free online platforms (e.g., Canva, CapCut, Book Creator). Our solution transforms the classroom into a space of authorship and agency, where students become storytellers of their realities.

We directly serve Lower, Middle & High School students students and educators in Brazilian public schools, especially those in under-resourced and marginalized communities. These students often face learning environments lacking in motivation, creativity, and connection to real-world challenges. Teachers, in turn, struggle with outdated materials, heavy workloads, and limited support to innovate in the classroom. Our solution — through the Filmaê and Escrevaê programs — transforms traditional learning by offering engaging, hands-on projects where students become authors and filmmakers of their own stories, rooted in the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These challenges foster critical and creative thinking, self-expression, and collaboration, giving voice to youth who are often excluded from mainstream narratives. Teachers benefit from clear, well-structured guidance and free access to digital platforms that support active learning, allowing them to bring innovation to their practice without additional burden. By empowering students and educators to create meaningful, socially engaged content, Cais Impactaê nurtures belonging, purpose, and agency in education. In just 2 years, we’ve already reached over 600 students and 200 teachers in 170 public schools, and we continue to grow — proving that powerful learning can happen anywhere, with the right tools and purpose.