​Youth sides step up education work during Granja Comary campEliane Paim leads the projectCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBFThe routine of Brazil’s Under-15 and Under-17 National Teams at Granja Comary, in Teresópolis (RJ), is not limited to training sessions and matches. During the current call-up, the players are also taking part in an educational program that combines academic support and activities focused on citizenship development. The work is led by youth national teams pedagogue Eliane Paim.CBF’s Educational Support Project for Youth Categories resumed in 2026 with the aim of ensuring that the call-up period can be balanced with the athletes’ school life. Developed in partnership with their clubs, the initiative includes individual monitoring and group meetings on topics related to the development of young people.Last Sunday (16), the Under-17 National Team took part in an activity dedicated to fighting racism. After watching a report from Esporte Espetacular, on TV Globo, the players were invited to analyze situations of prejudice in football and discuss the consequences for those who suffer discrimination, as well as the responsibility of the other members of the team.The activity was divided into groups, which analyzed different aspects of the problem. The athletes discussed the incidents presented, the impacts on players’ performance and emotional state, the attitude of teammates and referees, as well as the rules and possible measures in a situation involving racism.Afterward, the points raised were taken to a group discussion. The idea was to place the players themselves at the center of the debate and get them to think about how they would react if a similar situation happened during a match.Eliane Paim during the talk with the athletesCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBFFor Eliane Paim, the main goal is to make sure young people do not see themselves merely as spectators in a situation of prejudice.“They also need to feel responsible for what happens, and not just be spectators. So they also need to mobilize. I’m not doing it, I’m not the one suffering the offense. But that does not mean they should stay silent or remain on the sidelines. Quite the opposite,” she said.The pedagogue also drew attention to a type of behavior that can appear in sports settings: treating an offensive remark as a simple joke.“I think this very much falls into that dangerous context of assuming it’s a joke. ‘I’m joking, he’s laughing.’ But the fact that a teammate is laughing does not mean he likes it. And even if he laughs along, if what you said was inappropriate, then it’s not acceptable,” she pointed out.The discussion also included a writing exercise. The athletes were asked to answer the question: “How can information and team unity be the best plays against racism?” The activity works on argumentative skills and encourages reflection on empathy, ethics, and leadership.Development beyond the pitchFighting racism is just one