A milestone in Redes da Maré’s fight for more equitable education in the 15 favelas of Maré, the Pre-College Preparatory Course (CPV) has, over the past 25 years, become a local treasure. It offers residents the opportunity to expand their knowledge and life prospects. Since its founding in 1998, approximately 1,333 students have gained entry to public and private universities, clearly increasing the number of Maré residents with access to higher education. CPV helps turn dreams into reality and transform lives.

PREPARATION FOR ENEM (SAT) AND UERJ WITH CRITICAL THINKING

CPV offers 20 hours of weekly classes to prepare students for Brazil’s National High School Exam (ENEM) and other entrance exams, such as UERJ’s. The course emphasizes critical thinking, human rights, and respect for diversity.

The project is part of the Rede de Saberes Program of Redes da Maré and broadens educational and cultural opportunities for residents. During the school year, it offers complementary activities such as in-class and off-site lessons, mock exams with feedback, psychosocial support, and events like the Graduation and Career Fair.

There are 250 spots available, spread across five classes in three locations within Maré: Nova Holanda, Vila dos Pinheiros, and Vila do João, all offering evening classes.

Special lecture on the book “Hora de Alimentar Serpentes” – June 2019

UERJ essay mock exam. 2022.

Graduation and Career Fair. 2023

June Cultural Gathering. 2024

 Regular classes - They take place five times a week, with four class periods per day, across 13 subjects, totaling 20 hours per week: Portuguese Language, Literature, Writing/Text Production, Spanish, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, World History, Brazilian History, Geography, Philosophy, and Current Affairs. The course covers all the curriculum required by the National High School Exam (ENEM) and other entrance exams, enabling access to public and private universities.

Extra activities - These happen on Saturdays and/or Sundays for review and solving of past entrance exam tests (ENEM/UERJ) and university entrance simulations. There is also specific and reinforced preparation for the four books indicated annually for the UERJ entrance exam, including guest speakers. There are also two annual saraus, with themes chosen by students, and one public class in the street every semester.

 Field classes - On average, four interdisciplinary political- pedagogical activities per year are held with all five classes simultaneously, outside the classroom, on weekends, to expand students’ cultural capital and encourage circulation beyond the favela. The first field class takes place in Maré, where students are invited to reflect on the history of favelas, and the social, economic, political, and environmental issues surrounding them, in addition to being encouraged to move through different landscapes, regardless of the territory’s invisible barriers. Other classes may take place in downtown Rio, such as in the Little Africa region, in less urban areas like Serra do Mendanha State Park in the West Zone, or even farther away, like the city of Paraty, where an activity occurred in 2023, or in the imperial city of Petrópolis.

Graduation and Careers Fair -Held in the first semester, the goal is to bring college entrance candidates closer to the reality of the courses and professions they intend to choose. Former CPV students currently enrolled in college and professionals working in the areas chosen by the students are invited to speak about practical experiences and the job market. It is a two-day event, in partnership with the State School Professor João Borges de Moraes, including a session dedicated to student welcoming and a conversation about choices, mediated by a psychologist.

 Psychosocial support and guidance for students -Individualized attention to students’ needs, considering social issues and offering psychosocial care. Guidance is provided throughout all stages of the entrance exam process, including where to register, deadlines, and required documents, including for fee waiver applications.

PRE-COLLEGE PREPARATORY COURSE FOR WOMEN

TEAM

Coordination: Luana Silveira

Pedagogical Coordination: Bruno Barros, Erika Batista, Marcos Melo e Teresa Cruz

Coordination Assistants: Clara França, Dener Oliveira e Vanessa Rodrigues

Administrative Support for the Education Axis: Cláudia Barreto

Educators: Bruno Barros, Brenda Mel, Carolina Ponciano, Diego Marcelino, Érika Silva, Ernani Alcides, Fernanda França, Gisele Oliveira, João Gouveia, Kim Ramos, Lucas Pereira, Marcos Melo, Patrícia França, Paulo Vitor, Paulo Tavares, Tereza Cruz, Vanderson Felipe, Vitor Cordeiro, Vitor Félix e Wanderson Cordeiro.

SUPPORTING PARTNERS

KINDERMISSIONSWERK

CPV CONTACT

E-mail: eixoeducacao@redesdamare.org.br

WhatsApp Redes da Maré: (21) 99924-6462

Class Locations:

PRedes da Maré Central Building: (Rua Sargento Silva Nunes, nº 1012 - Nova Holanda)
Hours: 6:30 PM to 10:30 PMv

Redes da Maré Headquarters – Vila dos Pinheiros (Via A1 - CIEP Ministro Gustavo Capanema)
Hours: 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM

Vila do João Unit (Rua 11, 243 - Ação Comunitária do Brasil)
Hours: 6:30 PM to 10:30 PM

STUDENTS CPV WOMEN:

"When I started to participate in the project, my intention was to prepare myself well for ENEM and other entrance exams, and also to fill some deficits that I had during high school, but throughout the project, I realized that it goes much further than that. During this process, I am constantly being inspired and motivated by both teachers and coordinators and collaborators. What I learned a lot from the project and about myself during this process is that I want to do something that inspires people and that can help my community."

Josiely Costa, 17, class of 2021

"I have lived at Maré for 26 years, and my expectation when entering the course was precisely to gain more knowledge and experience in the ENEM exams, so that I could take an exam with excellence and be able to enter the university. The course also helps in our daily lives, because from the moment you can acquire more knowledge, you can also pass this knowledge on to those around you."

Vânia Silva, 47, class of 2021

"My expectation when entering the project was to be able to have a better preparation for the entrance exam. Both Redes and L'Oréal helped me to have this preparation, because a pre-college course is expensive and, if it weren't for that, I couldn't have prepared myself in the best way. They helped me a lot with this! My expectation for the future is to get into the college I want and to be able to graduate. Thank you for your help and encouragement!"

Vitória Ferreira, 18, class of 2021

FORMER CPV STUDENTS:

"I've been a resident of Nova Holanda since I was born and I had friends and family who took the CPV. That's why, in 2017, I chose to register and apply for the pre-university entrance exam, because I knew it would help me. The CPV was the same year that I was in the 3rd year of high school. It was very busy, as I only had the afternoon to study, both for the entrance exam and for school, but the CPV helped me not only in the college entrance exams. Many of the school´s subjects became easier because of the CPV and that way I managed to lighten the burden of school. I took the ENEM and the UERJ exam and went on to Electrical Engineering at UERJ, Electrical Engineering at UFRJ (where I am now) and Mathematics at UFRRJ."

Pedro Henrique, 22, class of 2017

"CPV, like Redes, had a fundamental impact on my life. Through Redes, I managed to go to a technical school in high school that gave me a qualified education, despite the distance and fatigue. Then, CPV helped me even more to prepare and know what to do at ENEM and UERJ. The classes for the specific ones at UERJ helped me a lot to achieve my goal. Since I was little, Redes helps me to achieve my goals. I am very grateful for what they did and still do for me."

Jonatas Magno, 21, class of 2017 and 2018

CPV TEAM:

"Talking about a project that involves women and education is very gratifying for me, because it is also talking about an opportunity for transformation and to believe in a fairer Brazil. My expectation is that more and more women from Maré can join universities, and that this becomes increasingly possible in their reality. Even with the great dedication of these women, some of them work double or even triple shifts, when they have children, work outside the home and still need time for studies. I see a lot of strength and that inspires me to keep teaching strong women like them."

Érika Batista, 29, Chemistry teacher

"I attended the CPV in 2011 and moved to Social Work at UERJ in 2012. Being part of this pre-college entrance exam team is very gratifying, because it was in this project that I started my academic and professional life."

Luana Silveira, 30, coordinator of the CPV

"There is no greater joy than having the opportunity to work in a team where half of them were my students. The work is very humanized and has transformed me. 6 years ago, I had an accident, I broke my knee and had no hope of walking. Visiting a 70-year-old lady, Dona Maria de Lourdes, she said she was going to wait for me: 'You'll come back to teach and I'll pass the entrance exam, but I need you!' It took 4 months to walk again, but I made sure to return to Redes, on a crutch, to teach her. Today, this lady is studying Philosophy at UFRJ!"

Bruno Barros, 44, Math teacher since 1998