Located in the heart of the Pantanal, the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano (South American Cultural Mill Institute) marked 20 years of transforming lives on the border between Brazil and Bolivia. Over these two decades, the institution has established itself as a true breeding ground for talent, impacting more than 25 thousand children and adolescents and contributing to the training of professionals in 180 different fields.

Since its founding, Moinho Cultural has offered a training program that lasts eight years, covering activities such as dance, music, literature, and technology. The proposal is clear: to transform lives through art, providing access to opportunities that were previously unreachable for many children in the region.

The Institute’s executive director and founder, Márcia Rolon, highlights the impact of the work carried out. “Our goal has always been to awaken dreams and broaden horizons. We see our children and adolescents growing up and becoming professionals in various fields, from dancers to engineers, from teachers to parliamentary advisors. Moinho Cultural is a space for comprehensive development, one that transcends art and is reflected throughout our students’ entire lives,” she states.

A survey conducted with former participants confirms the diversity of paths taken by those who have gone through the Institute. Currently, young people trained by Moinho Cultural work in 180 different professions, highlighting the reach and impact of the work carried out.

Joelson Aparecido dos Santos, who took part in the institution’s continuing education program for seven years and is now a parliamentary advisor, describes the importance of the experience. “When you work with children from the outskirts, many of them have no prospect of dreaming. Moinho Cultural shows us the paths and, above all, the humanity that exists within,” he emphasizes.

Lavínia Aparecida Silva Sales, in turn, pursued a career in dance and is now a volunteer at a social project in Campo Grande, as well as an early childhood education teacher. “I fell in love with ballet, with the art of dance and, consequently, with teaching. Moinho Cultural was transformative in my life, it helped me become the person and the professional I am today,” she says.