Teaching Compassion to Children in Teresópolis, Brazil
Teacher
Alexandre Sampaio Octaviano is a certified CBCT® teacher by Emory University with a background in mind training, emotional regulation, and sports coaching. With experience coaching football teams in the Netherlands, Spain, and Brazil, he integrates mindfulness, self-awareness, and emotional control into both sports and education. His mission is to help young people develop inner balance, resilience, and a compassionate mindset, especially in underserved communities.
Course
Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT) is an eight-week program designed to help individuals connect with compassion and well-being through insights, meditation, and emotional awareness practices. For this particular program, CBCT was adapted to the reality of young students, adjusting language and exercises to fit their cultural and developmental needs.
Location
Teresópolis, Brazil
Community Impacted
The course was delivered to 22 children in a public school in Teresópolis, a low-income city near Rio de Janeiro. The students, many of whom come from families with limited access to education and emotional support, face social and economic hardships that often impact their emotional well-being.
Their school environment does not traditionally offer emotional education, making this program a unique opportunity for them to learn about self-awareness, emotional intelligence, and mindfulness.
Why compassion is relevant
Children growing up in challenging socio-economic conditions often lack the tools to process emotions and manage stress effectively. Many of the students in this program:
- Face difficult home environments with little emotional support
- Experience high levels of stress and insecurity
- Have never been exposed to mindfulness or compassion training
CBCT equips them with essential life skills, including:
- Emotional self-regulation to manage stress and anxiety
- A greater sense of empathy and connection with their peers
- The ability to reflect before reacting, improving their relationships
- A foundation for resilience and personal growth, shaping their future choices
Motivation to serve this community
Alexandre was motivated to bring CBCT to this school because he recognized the lack of emotional education in public schools in Teresópolis. He had previously worked with young football teams in the region and saw firsthand the need for greater emotional resilience and self-regulation skills among children.
His goal was to introduce CBCT as a foundational practice that could help these children navigate their emotions and equip them with tools to change their future and their city.
How were they impacted
The course had a profound effect on the students, even though many had never been exposed to meditation or mindfulness before.
Desire for continued learning – Many students expressed a strong interest in continuing the program, and Alexandre is exploring ways to integrate CBCT with sports activities to make it even more engaging.
Increased curiosity and engagement – The children were eager to learn about emotions and the mind, asking many questions and participating actively in discussions.
Greater emotional awareness – They became more aware of their thoughts and feelings, which helped them express themselves more constructively.
Improved focus and patience – While some initially struggled with meditation, over time, they became more comfortable with the practice, learning to sit in stillness and observe their emotions.
A shift in school dynamics – Teachers reported that students who had previously been restless or reactive were now demonstrating improved self-control and a greater willingness to listen and engage.