Brazilian towns Varginha and Capivari push education innovation with STEAM awards and early‑childhood program

The municipal school system of Varginha, Brazil, placed seven projects among the 150 best entries in the Liga STEAM 2026 prize, a national competition organized by the Fundação ArcelorMittal. The achievement was highlighted by municipal education secretary Juliana de Paula Mendonça and mayor Leonardo Ciacci, who credited ongoing teacher training and problem‑based learning for the success.

In the neighboring town of Capivari, the "Capivari do Amanhã" program, now in its second year, has been implemented in three public schools. The initiative has trained more than 50 teachers, reached over 350 children, and reportedly improved classroom harmony, reduced conflicts and boosted children’s communication skills by about 75%. The program emphasizes a human‑centered, emotionally supportive approach and has upgraded school spaces to create more welcoming learning environments.