0
In 2025, the A União Faz a Vida Program (PUFV) celebrates 30 years of history, consolidating itself as one of the main cooperative education initiatives in Brazil. Developed by Fundação Sicredi, the program has already impacted more than 5.3 million students and 250 thousand educators, in almost five thousand schools in 780 municipalities in 15 Brazilian states.
In Sicredi Biomas’ area of activity, the program has been an important instrument for social transformation and strengthening links between schools, families and communities. Through partnerships with municipal education departments and local institutions, PUFV has helped children and young people learn through curiosity, cooperation and protagonism, developing essential values for citizenship development.
With a strong presence in the states of Acre and Mato Grosso, Sicredi Biomas has consistently expanded the reach of the Program, strengthening its commitment to the social development of the communities where it operates. Currently, PUFV is present in 21 municipalities, with the participation of more than 65 schools, 1,400 educators and more than 21 thousand children and adolescents, who in 2024 developed more than 1,200 projects inspired by the principles of cooperation and citizenship.
These results reflect ongoing partnership work between the cooperative, municipal education departments, teachers and families, who see the program’s methodology as a real opportunity to transform learning into life experiences. In each participating city from Cruzeiro do Sul and Rio Branco, in Acre, to Pontes e Lacerda and Araputanga, in Mato Grosso, PUFV becomes a link between the school and the community, awakening in new generations a sense of belonging, solidarity and responsibility towards the collective.
The program’s methodology proposes that students, guided by educators, carry out investigative expeditions in different contexts, whether physical spaces, such as squares and local businesses, or virtual ones, such as films and books, promoting learning through projects that dialogue with the reality of each community. This approach allows schools to build more dynamic pedagogical experiences that are connected to the territory, strengthening the role of education as a tool for social transformation.
According to Sicredi Biomas, the impact of the program is reflected not only in classrooms, but also in the lives of families and in the strengthening of local communities. “PUFV is part of the essence of cooperativism, which believes in education as a tool to transform realities. In each municipality where the program is present, we see more engaged children, more inspired teachers and communities more united around collective learning”, highlights the cooperative.
Over three decades, PUFV continues to be inspired by international experiences of cooperative education, but with a close eye on Brazilian particularities. In 2025, the motto “30 years of discoveries, 30 years of stories to tell” celebrates the experiences of millions of students and educators who were part of this trajectory. Among the commemorative actions is the national competition “What name is my face?”, which invites participating schools from across the country to suggest a name for the Bee, the mascot symbol of the program and the collective strength of cooperation.
With a consolidated presence in the North and Central-West states, PUFV reaffirms Sicredi Biomas’ commitment to the development of the communities where it operates, promoting citizenship, dialogue and the construction of a more collaborative future.
About Sicredi
Sicredi is a cooperative financial institution committed to the growth of its members and the development of the regions where it operates. It has a management model that values the participation of more than 9 million associates, who play the role of business owners. With more than 2,900 branches, Sicredi is physically present in all Brazilian states and the Federal District, providing a full range of financial and non-financial solutions.
Sicredi website: Click here
Social Networks: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | YouTube | TikTok
