In Tutoria Solidária, collaborative learning focuses on active engagement, open dialogue and shared knowledge-building in an environment where connection is the key to the success of the learning journey.

It is an opportunity for students - tutors and trainees - to hone their interpersonal skills and experience a different reality. "It offers a reciprocal learning dynamic. Most want to be tutors because they are genuinely interested in this exchange. They learn to handle improvisation, work with the unknown, understand and respect differing points of view," explained Avenues teacher Paula Turatto. The pairings are defined based on age and academic interests. For example, a student from Avenues, who is good at math, is paired with a student from Jardim Panorama who has an interest in this subject, and so on.

With the return of in-person activities and the dedication of teachers and students, the number of tutorship partners from Jardim Panorama and the Rizomas Institute has now reached 13. One of the project's standout stories is that of Marina Sant'Anna, a 19-year-old student who continued assisting her mentee, Manuela, even after graduating and going to college in the United States. "They forged a genuine friendship, which shows how well it worked. It's an exchange that goes beyond academics, and is now a relationship based on mutual affection and respect," concluded Paula.

In 2022, Tutoria Solidária welcomed students from the XIX de Março school, in the city of Itajubá, state of Minas Gerais, who had initiated a similar program to teach science to students from public schools. During the visit, the students shared their tutoring experiences with the other children. 

Looking ahead, the goal is to increase the number of student tutors and boost the project to underscore the pivotal role of education as a tool for connecting people.