K2 are proud to present a feature film from the K2 Foundation that celebrates the completion of an incredible project. A project that started as a dream which, now realised, has the power to transform the lives of all those it touches.
The film opens by taking us on a journey through Parelheiros, the São Paulo subprefecture that is home to a very special school; a school built with love.
A burst of colour and the cheerful chatter of children signals the arrival at the site of the new building. The building is modern and bright, well-built and packed with all the facilities and features to make it the perfect environment for education, play and the nourishment of both mind and body.
But of course, this story isn’t really about the building. The benefits of the school extend far beyond the provision of bricks and mortar. Its real impact is in the experiences and opportunities it will bring for the children who attend it.
We see and hear from many of these children throughout the film; their faces smiling and messages sincere. The joy and gratitude that radiates from each and every young person that passes in front the camera lens is beyond heartwarming.
In addition to meeting the children, some of the volunteers who are instrumental in the school’s day to day running, share what it means to them: Family. Love. A sense of belonging. A place to feel at home. Crucially, we are also introduced to Tia Mônica and Tia Selma, the inspirational sisters behind Associacao Semeando Amor com Tia Monica, the organisation without which none of this would be possible.
Associacao Semeando Amor com Tia Monica was created when Tia (Aunt) Mônica set up a small home classroom in a bid to offer her nephew, Jhonatan, access to a good education. Jhonatan was born with Cornelia de Lange syndrome, a rare genetic disorder which meant that local mainstream schools felt ill equipped to give him the support he needed. At the start, Mônica and Jhonatan were joined by just one other boy but the project quickly grew, with Mônica eventually taking in so many children that they needed to find school premises. It was at this point that they moved to the original school, the site on which K2’s CEO and Founder, Nick Plummer, pledged the K2 Foundation’s support to renovate the school building after it had fallen into a state of significant disrepair.
Jhonatan sadly passed away in 2023; around the same time the decision was made to proceed with plans to construct a new building from scratch. Jhonatan’s memory lives on in the school, and in the smiles of the children it serves.
Tia Mônica speaks of how K2 have given them a ‘castle’; a suitable comparison for the fortified structure which aims to protect the futures of children, and where these children may in time be empowered to create their own fairytale endings.
Also featured within the film are some of the team from One Moving, a key K2 partner, who have supported the project every step of the way.
A project delivered with care and dignity, the school build is only the beginning of what we envision as a lasting programme of positive change and community impact driven by the K2 Foundation.
We hope you enjoy the film.