Conectados Pela Vida develops and implements programs to promote mental health, prevent substance use, and strengthen community well-being through educational initiatives and innovative school projects. Key projects such as Psychiatry and the School, Pedagogy of Love, and Connect Yourself have reached hundreds of students and educators, fostering skills in emotional regulation, healthy habits, and peer and family relationships. The organization also actively contributes to international discussions on addiction prevention and youth engagement, holding ECOSOC special consultative status and co-sponsoring global events. It is also an active member of the International Federation of Green Crescent since 2020.
Conectados Pela Vida empowers students, teachers, and families through innovative programs that promote mental health, strengthen social bonds, and prevent substance use.
Conectados Pela Vida holds ECOSOC special consultative status and collaborates globally to advance youth engagement and addiction prevention.
We develop and implement prevention programs that reach children, adolescents, families, and professionals. In schools, our interactive workshops focus on life skills, emotional regulation, healthy screen use, and the prevention of substance use. In communities, we organize lectures, campaigns, and mobilization events that strengthen protective factors and encourage healthier lifestyles. We also invest in teacher training, equipping educators to deal with everyday challenges in the classroom, identify risks early, and apply evidence-based preventive strategies.
Conectados Pela Vida was founded in 2020 after the participation of Alexandre Kieslich and Daniel Spritzer in international training programs such as the Capacity Building Program organized by the Green Crescent in 2019. Since its creation, the NGO has developed projects focusing on mental health promotion, addiction prevention, and youth empowerment, in collaboration with schools, health services, and civil society organizations.
Conectados Pela Vida, in partnership with the Social Circus School, implemented the “Pedagogy of Love” project with 360 children and adolescents from Langendonck Elementary School in Porto Alegre. From May to July 2022, 14 workshops combined yoga, non-violent communication, and circus techniques to support emotional regulation, teamwork, creativity, and resilience. The project enhanced body awareness, respect, and social interaction, benefiting participants, their families, and the school community.
All projects took place in public schools, directly reaching over 900 teachers and students and indirectly benefiting their families and communities in Rio Grande do Sul and Santa Catarina. Using educational, psychosocial, and creative approaches, the initiatives fostered resilience, strengthened protective factors, and prevented risk behaviors, in line with national mental health and education policies and international prevention standards.
Conectados Pela Vida, in partnership with the Psychiatry Association of Rio Grande do Sul and the State Education Secretary, implemented the “Psychiatry and the School” project, reaching 100 public-school teachers. Conducted between March and July 2022, the online course covered mental disorders in children and adolescents, offering strategies for early identification and referral through 7 online meetings and 17 lectures. Teachers gained skills to recognize mental health issues, guide families, and help reduce students’ risk of substance use.
Conectados Pela Vida, in partnership with the New Hope Recovery Center (CERENE), implemented the “Connect Yourself” project for 450 adolescents from Professora Marta Tavares Elementary School in Rio Negrinho. Between July and December 2022, 84 sessions addressed drug and alcohol use, risky sexual behavior, crime, bullying, self-harm, and suicide prevention. The project strengthened family and peer bonds, promoted healthier lifestyles, and raised awareness on addiction and violence, benefiting students, their families, and the wider community.