Viva Judo students win medals in regional and national competitions

Luís Otávio Silveira and Henrique Freire de Paula participated in the Copa Poços de Caldas Judo Championship and qualified for the Santa Catarina Interstate Meeting, one of the main martial arts events in the country. Just seven months in, the Viva Judo Project has already yielded remarkable achievements and results for the sport in the Divinolândia region, in upstate São Paulo. In November, two of the project's students won medals at the Copa Poços de Caldas Judo Championship.   Henrique Freire de Paula achieved third place in the Sub-13 category, while Luís Otávio Silveira finished fifth in the same category. This result meant the pair also qualified for the Santa Catarina Interstate Meeting, a nationally recognized judo event.   Viva Judo Project is organized by the Divinolândia (SP) Judo Association with the support of Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio (CBA), Metalex and Instituto Votorantim. The project teaches the martial art to students between 6 and 17 for free, enhancing their physical, intellectual and emotional development.   Around 500 athletes from Minas Gerais and São Paulo participated in Copa Poços de Caldas under the oversight of the Mineira and Paulista Judo Federations, the official judo bodies in the states and Brazil.   Danilo Pietrucci, the Viva Judo coordinator, celebrated the results and praised the efforts of the young medalists and all the students. "These children and their families have embraced this project and are strengthening bonds and developing great competitive potential, which will only continue to grow.  In addition to their achievements, they have the opportunity to become young athletes and experience how sports and education can improve their lives," he highlights.   The project currently has roughly 180 participants. The classes take place in the Campestrinho district and downtown Divinolândia in the mornings, afternoon and evenings.   Elaine Donizete Freire Souza, the mother of medalist Henrique Freire de Paula, championed the transformations provided by the project. "Judo is giving our children the opportunity to travel, meet other young people and other cultures, in addition to developing their discipline.  The project also helps with self-control and thinking about others, and it is putting the students on the right path," she evaluates.   According to Alexandre Vianna da Silva, the director of CBA's Primary Business, the project has already had positive impacts on the local community in just a few months. "The project is transforming the lives of 180 children and their families through sports and education.  Being here in Campestrinho and seeing firsthand how our work can help provide all this is rewarding. It's touching and motivates us to do more and more," he enthuses.   Coordinator Danilo Pietrucci also emphasized the inclusive nature of the Viva Judo Project, in which martial arts are taught to students with different degrees of autism. According to the coordinator, the results have been excellent: “Our teachers and monitors are trained to deal with a wide range of student profiles and we have seen clear improvements in them. We offer tailored, careful and affectionate classes, meeting each individual's requirements”, he concludes.   About CBA Founded in 1955, Companhia Brasileira de Alumínio - CBA is a vertically integrated producer, from cradle to gate, including recycling. Able to generate 100% of energy consumed from renewable sources, CBA provides sustainable solutions for the packaging, transportation, automotive, civil construction, energy and consumer goods sectors, as well as leading the recycling of industrial aluminum scrap.   Following its flotation in 2021 (CBAV3), it became the first company in its segment to be traded on B3. With net revenue of R$ 8.4 billion in 2021 and R$ 1.5 billion in Adjusted EBITDA in the period, CBA is committed to guaranteeing a supply of low-carbon aluminum in partnership with stakeholders, developing communities in its geographies and conserving biodiversity.   Would you like to know more? See www.ri.cba.com.br  Press Office – Ideia Comunicação Empresarial Ângelo Franco – [email protected] | (31) 9.8435-9237 Josiane Souza - [email protected] | (31) 9.8417-3130