Early childhood at the heart of Brazil's future

Early childhood faces significant challenges, and most Brazilians still do not recognize the transformative power of this phase of life.

The signing of the National Integrated Early Childhood Policy (PNIPI) this August represents a milestone in our country's recent history. As a grandmother, as a citizen, and as a woman who has worked in the social field for years, I saw in this measure a concrete commitment to the future.

If there is one area where Brazil should invest to promote profound long-term transformations, that area is childhood. I often repeat that a country cannot combat inequality if it does not place early childhood at the center of its decisions.

This is because at no other stage of life will development be so rapid and so powerful. Early childhood encompasses the first six years of life. It is the phase of greatest human development, when brain connections occur at a rate of 1 million per second and 90% of the brain is formed.

Even so, a large part of the population is unaware of the importance of this phase. The research " Panorama of Early Childhood: What Brazil knows, experiences and thinks about the first six years of life ," conducted by the Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation in partnership with Datafolha, revealed that 42% of Brazilians do not know what the term "early childhood" means and 84% do not recognize that the greatest physical, emotional and learning development occurs precisely during this period.

This data shows the magnitude of the challenge we face in raising social awareness about this phase.

In recent years, Brazilian public policies have taken important steps to prioritize early childhood development:

• The Early Childhood Legal Framework , which provided a legal basis for guaranteeing rights in an integrated way.
• The Bolsa Família supplement for families with young children , directly supporting childcare and development.
• The law that established August as Early Childhood Awareness Month , increasing visibility and public commitment.
• And now, the PNIPI , which integrates health, education, social assistance, culture, housing, human rights, justice, and racial and gender equality.

The new policy recognizes that a child should be viewed with complexity, humanity, and intentionality in an intersectional way . More than that, it understands that no child walks alone . As the African proverb says: "It takes a village to raise a child." Therefore, it also includes their caregivers, valuing the network of protection and affection that surrounds each little life. This is revolutionary. It is seeing not only the individual, but also the collective that forms and sustains them.

And this is where the role of philanthropy and organized civil society comes in. The PNIPI (National Policy for the Promotion of Early Childhood) is the result of years of consistent work by organizations such as the Maria Cecília Souto Vidigal Foundation and Todos Pela Educação ), which, with the support of philanthropy, produced evidence, forged alliances, listened to experts and communities, and built bridges with public authorities. This is the kind of action we advocate for in the Bem Maior Movement , where philanthropy becomes a lever for transformative solutions capable of inspiring and strengthening public policies like this one.

At MBM, we support organizations with their feet firmly on the ground and their eyes on the systemic. We work based on listening, trust, and co-creation. Whenever we see a policy like PNIPI come to life, we reinforce our certainty that collaborative philanthropy works, that civil society has power, and that Brazil has the answers.

There is still much to be done. The policy has been launched, but it needs to be implemented, monitored, and defended. This requires continued investment in those who care, educate, protect, and innovate. Private social investment needs to remain committed to what cannot be measured immediately, but which builds the future—care, affection, and the foundation of a more just society.

If we want a country with more dignity, equity, and justice, the path begins with the choices we make for today's children. And no choice is more strategic, more humane, and more urgent than guaranteeing a childhood with care, rights, and opportunities for all.

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This article was written by:
Carola MB Matarazzo, executive director of the Bem Maior Movement.

The first years of life shape a child's future. By investing in this phase, we invest in greater equity, opportunities, and quality of life in the long term.

This August, Green August , Early Childhood Awareness Month, we reinforce the role of philanthropy as a strategic ally of initiatives that care for holistic development from the beginning of life.

Shall we take care of it from the start?

Share this message and be part of the #EarlyChildhoodMonth movement .

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