A A&EIGHT, an end-to-end digital solutions ecosystem, announced educational support for youths served by the NGO A Liga Digital. The focus will be teaching young people from communities and favelas how to use the e-commerce platform VTEX. The partnership aims to bridge the gap in access to technology, empowering talent 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 over 8,000 youths across Brazil in areas such as artificial intelligence, digital marketing, e-commerce, and programming. The nonprofit organization offers free courses for public school students living in socially vulnerable communities, 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, alongside partners with a background similar to mine, we founded A&EIGHT, now one of VTEX’s leading 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 precisely because he deeply understands the transformative power of education, he began supporting A Liga Digital with mentorship: “We want to boost trajectories and create real opportunities for youth in the outskirts,” he concludes.
Partners of A&EIGHT and students from NGO A Liga Digital at Vtex Day
Students from NGO A Liga Digital at Vtex Day with teachers and volunteers
Entrepreneurial vision
Currently in Brazil, about 10.1% of young people aged 18 to 24 are unemployed, according to data from IBGE’s Pnad Contínua published in April 2025. This number is more than double that of the group aged 30 to 59, highlighting the need for professional qualification among youth. Therefore, in addition to preparing students for the job market, Liga Digital encourages entrepreneurship. “Students impacted by A Liga Digital learn hands-on skills to create online stores, develop sales strategies, connect their businesses to marketplaces, and use cutting-edge artificial intelligence platforms. Practical knowledge in these new technologies creates real opportunities for life-changing employment and income,” emphasizes 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 searching for their first internship to developing their careers.