João Gomes starts project to help children with communication issues | OneFootball

João Gomes, former Flamengo player, struggles with stuttering

To be, to feel, and to communicate. Communication is one of the essential skills for personal and professional success, but many teenagers face difficulties in communicating, whether due to shyness, low self-esteem, speech disorders, or lack of opportunity to practice.

In this context, the João Gomes Institute emerges, a social initiative by the former Flamengo midfielder, who currently plays for Wolverhampton in England. Shy off the field and averse to interviews, João Gomes was withdrawn throughout his childhood and adolescence due to disfluency, more commonly known as stuttering.

Thus, the discomfort turned into strength to now launch a comprehensive social project aimed at children and teenagers with communication difficulties. In this way, the midfielder can provide support that he did not have in the past.

HOW DID THE DISCOVERY HAPPEN, JOÃO GOMES?

“I discovered that I needed to face my fears, for myself and for so many other children, teenagers, and adults who suffer daily with communication difficulties. As I suffered. I want to show that they can become whatever they want to be. It's a long-term job, but I want to use the reach of my networks to talk about the subject, to support these kids. My idea is to be a reference for them and support in whatever is possible,” explains João.

WHO WILL THE INSTITUTE SERVE?

The João Gomes Institute will initially serve children from the public school system and is negotiating to start activities with children from the General Napion and Leonel Brizola municipal schools, near Piscinão de Ramos, where he was born and raised.

“We will do in-depth work with the schools, providing teachers with tools that help in identifying these communication difficulties and can intervene, promoting the personal and social development of these children,” explains Camilo Coelho, director of the João Gomes Institute.

Among the activities with the children, workshops on self-awareness, dialogue and empathy circles, speech labs, individualized and group sessions, media education workshops, and communication work in English using social networks are planned.

WHEN DOES THE PROJECT START?

The project will start in December, even with the end of the school year, to set up a plan of action in conjunction with the school management. In 2025, the first workshops for municipal school teachers will be held. The idea is that next year the actions will be implemented, effectively reaching the children.

“I want to be an example for these kids, but I also want to be a better person. That's why I decided to face this issue head-on, lost the shame of exposing myself, and will use everything I went through so that other children don't have to go through the same thing. But I also want to be an example for my son, the greatest achievement of my life. He is just starting to communicate, is developing, and I want to be by his side in all these moments,” concludes João.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.