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Instituto Terra’s educational programs don’t just inform, they transform.
Passing on knowledge: teaching the future teachers. Photo: Jovander Pito
Environmental education is at the heart of Instituto Terra’s mission – and its reach is impressive. Nearly 93,000 people have been positively impacted by its programs, including farmers, students, teachers, community leaders, as well as local residents across the Rio Doce Basin. One standout initiative is NERE, a program equipping young adults with practical skills in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. Through a grant from the Z Zurich Foundation, a Swiss-based charitable foundation established by members of the Zurich Insurance Group, it is now expanding its scope to help participants create livelihoods in their home areas. “At Zurich, we believe change begins with people, and especially young people, who carry our hopes for the future,” says Laurence Maurice, Zurich CEO Latin America and a member of the Foundation’s board of trustees. “It’s a privilege to help empower them, not just with resources, but with knowledge to shape their communities with confidence.”
The Ecosystem Restoration Studies Center (NERE) trains young people to work as ecosystem restoration agents. Photo: Lucas Barcelos
Local engagement has always been central to Instituto Terra’s work: providing environmental education for children, young technicians, and communities across the region.
Instituto Terra’s young visitors learn about reforestation and resilience. Photo: Jovander Pito
Instituto Terra formalized its educational efforts in 2005 with the creation of the Center for Environmental Restoration Education (CERA), which now oversees a range of initiatives aimed at fostering environmental awareness and community engagement. One of them, ‘Terrinhas’ (Lands), is an award-winning initiative for children aged 10 to 12 that brings nature into classrooms and homes. Recognized by UNESCO, it includes immersive visits to Instituto Terra, and works closely with teachers and families. Meanwhile, ‘Terra Jovens’ (Young Earth) engages teens and young adults from diverse backgrounds, promoting conservation and sustainability.
If growing a tree is like growing a child, as Sebastião Salgado said, then the same care and thought must be given to youth. By empowering young people, Instituto Terra is planting the seeds that will help a sustainable mindset to flourish among future generations – a success well beyond regrowing a forest.
A sustainable mindset: Environmental education is at the heart of Instituto Terra’s mission. Photo: Jovander Pito
ZURICH INSURANCE GROUP
Alessio Vinci, Group Chief Communications Officer
Anja Heinsdorf, Project Lead
Published in November 2025
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Andrea Bleicher
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Jürg Sturzenegger
Alice Ratcliffe
Heike Anja Mittmann
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