A A&EIGHT, end-to-end digital solutions ecosystem, announced an educational support for the young people served by the NGO A Liga Digital. The focus will be to teach young people from communities and slums how to use the e-commerce platform VTEX. The partnership aims to fill a gap in technology access, empowering talents with limited resources to work in the growing digital market and, consequently, generate opportunities for inclusion and professional development.
A Liga Digital has already trained more than 8 thousand young people throughout Brazil in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital marketing, e-commerce, and programming. The non-profit organization offers free courses aimed at public school students living in communities in situations of social vulnerability, combining technical training with career guidance.
“I come from a humble background and studied my whole life in public schools. However, I managed to change my life by venturing into the digital world and, along with partners with a similar background, we founded A&EIGHT, now one of VTEX’s main global partners,” says Renato Avelar, partner and co-CEO of A&EIGHT. The company is also led by Vinícius Sanches and Hugo Alvarenga. The executive emphasizes that knowing so deeply the transformative potential of education is the reason why he started supporting A Liga Digital with mentorship, ‘we want to boost trajectories and create real opportunities for young people from the outskirts’, he concludes.
Members of A&EIGHT and students from the NGO A Liga Digital at Vtex Day
Students from the NGO A Liga Digital at Vtex Day alongside teachers and volunteers
Entrepreneurial Vision
Currently in Brazil, about 10.1% of young people between 18 and 24 years old are unemployed, according to the Pnad Contínua data from IBGE, released in April 2025. This number is more than double that of the 30 to 59 age group, indicating the need for professional qualifications among young people. Therefore, in addition to preparing students for the job market, Liga Digital encourages entrepreneurship. “The students impacted by A Liga Digital learn in practice how to create online stores, develop sales strategies, connect their businesses to marketplaces, and use the most innovative artificial intelligence platforms. Practical knowledge in these new technologies generates real chances for life changes, employment, and income,” highlights Helenice Moura, co-founder of the NGO.
The institution also has a team of mentors composed of HR professionals, educators, and psychologists, who guide young people in their professional journeys, from seeking their first internship to developing their careers.
