Located on the banks of the Juruá River, the city of Porto Walter now has the first basic education unit of Marista Brasil in Acre. The Colégio Marista Porto Walter, inaugurated on March 4th, will be a social unit, working in partnership with the municipality to provide free education to approximately 400 students in the final years of elementary school.

The initiative was made possible through a partnership between Marista Brasil and the Municipality of Porto Walter, formalized through Municipal Law Project No. 434/2025, which authorizes the shared management of the current Manoel Moreira Pinheiro Elementary School. With the agreement, the unit will be renamed Colégio Marista Porto Walter, guaranteeing the continued provision of free public education in the municipality.

Through comprehensive education, in dialogue with the culture, knowledge, and socio-environmental reality of the region, the Colégio Marista Porto Walter will also serve as a space for institutional learning. “Expanding our presence to Porto Walter is an important step in the Marist mission of bringing holistic education to different realities across the country. Our commitment is to walk alongside communities, strengthening actions that promote development and opportunities for all,” says June Cruz, superintendent of Marist Brazil.

Free Education

The Marist Porto Walter School is another unit that integrates the basic education network of Marist Brazil. A national reference in offering free, quality education, reaching children, adolescents, and young people in different locations, the mission of social schools is to guarantee learning opportunities for all.

“The opening of this unit is in line with the strategic planning of Marist Brazil and the enduring mission initiated by Saint Marcellin Champagnat. The Amazon region has benefited from the presence of the Marist Brothers for over 50 years through various activities. Inaugurating our first basic education unit in a territory of great diversity and social relevance reinforces our commitment to caring for life, promoting human dignity, and strengthening local realities through education,” emphasizes Brother Claudiano Tiecher, president of the Board of Directors of Marist Brazil.

The purpose of the social schools is to encourage student leadership both inside and outside the school, expanding the positive impact on all communities. Education is a tool for social transformation, combining recognized values ​​and methodologies with the ethical and compassionate development of students.

Currently, there are 33 schools operating in the country, benefiting more than 15,000 students. Their programs range from early childhood education to high school, in addition to after-school activities that transform the spaces into safe environments for coexistence and development. The main criterion for admission to social schools is per capita family income. The initiative prioritizes serving families with children in situations of social vulnerability, reinforcing the institution’s commitment to inclusion and educational equity.

“Colégio Marista Porto Walter was created to walk alongside the local community. Our commitment is to ensure that students have access to a quality education, connected to the reality of the community and capable of opening paths to a better future. We believe that education can transform lives and it will be a joy to see our students growing up with pride in their roots and hope for the future,” says Brother Rai Costa de Menezes, director of Colégio Marista Porto Walter.