Teacher, mother, musician, manager and, now, a student again. If one were to sum up the life of violinist Kaíza da Costa Alves, 25, that would be it. Coordinator of the Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano, where she began her journey, Kaíza was one of the residents of Mato Grosso do Sul selected to take part in Falcons University, an initiative of Gerando Falcões.

Kaíza’s story is intertwined with that of Moinho Cultural, based in Corumbá, which, since it was founded 18 years ago, has already served more than 23,000 children and teenagers. She joined the institution when she was eight years old. It was in her second year there that she came into contact with the violin, the instrument in which she specialized. She currently is the spalla (concertmaster) of OCAMP (Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal, Pantanal Chamber Orchestra) – that is, the first violinist.

As someone served by the institution, Kaíza took classes with renowned teachers from the OSB (Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira, Brazilian Symphony Orchestra) and international instructors. When her cycle at Moinho Cultural came to an end, she entered college and graduated in Pedagogy.

At Moinho Cultural, she has already been a teacher for a project carried out in Puerto Quijarro (Bolivia), a violin teacher, a choir teacher and a member of OCAMP. In June of this year, she was invited to become the institution’s coordinator.

“I was always a musician, and since Moinho Cultural had already fulfilled my dream of playing in an orchestra, I didn’t see myself on the institution’s front line. For everything I’ve been through over these years, I also want to give something back to the institution. Being here is a way of repaying everything I received at the institute,” she says.

Kaíza says one of her main goals is to contribute to the work of Moinho Cultural. Photo: Divulgação/Moinho Cultural

In her new role, Kaíza began to envision other training opportunities, when she came across the selection process for Falcons University. Gerando Falcões, the organization behind the initiative, focuses on transformative initiatives capable of generating long-term results and, to that end, delivers education, economic development and citizenship services in favelas, and runs systemic transformation programs.

Launched in 2020, Falcons University, GF’s educational arm, is a talent accelerator with innovative and technological initiatives and deep human experiences, aimed at training leaders who wish to expand and improve the structure of their NGOs. More than 600 leaders have already been trained, working in 6,400 favelas across 26 Brazilian states.

“I am certain that this training will make a difference in the future. My goal is always to seek the best for Moinho Cultural and, above all, for the children, our most important audience,” Kaíza assures.

Classes have already begun and, on September 22 and 23, she takes part in an immersion program, which will be held in Campo Grande, with representatives from Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso.

The Instituto Moinho Cultural Sul-Americano

Moinho Cultural is a civil society organization that has offered, for 18 years, dance, music, technology and computing classes to children and teenagers in situations of social vulnerability in Corumbá, Ladário, Puerto Suárez and Puerto Quijarro. The comprehensive training offered by the institution lasts up to eight years. Moinho also works in training creative performers for young people and adults, with the Companhia de Dança do Pantanal, Orquestra de Câmara do Pantanal and Núcleo de Tecnologia. The institution’s mission is to reduce social vulnerability in the Brazil-Bolivia border region through access to cultural and technological assets. Since it began its activities, more than 23,000 children and teenagers have already been served by Moinho.

Currently, Moinho Cultural has master sponsorship through the Cultural Incentive Law from the Instituto Cultural Vale, as well as sponsorship from Bellalluna Participações LTDA, Energisa, BRINKS, BTG Pactual, Caraí Empreendimentos LTDA, HINOVE, Rodobens, cultural support from the Instituto FAR, funding from the Government of the State of Mato Grosso do Sul, through the Fundação de Cultura de Mato Grosso do Sul, in addition to a partnership with J.Macêdo and Fecomércio MS-SESC.