There is a kind of wealth that does not appear on financial statements. It is not counted on spreadsheets, does not generate quarterly reports, but has the power to change the course of entire generations. It is the wealth that is built when entrepreneurs understand that their role goes beyond generating profits — and start generating opportunities.
In Pirapora do Bom Jesus, since 2001, the Novas Trilhas Association has been making this philosophy real every day. And at the heart of this transformation is Duílio Antonio Beneton, Administrative and Financial Director of the project and a member of the Rotary of Jandira, who represents this cause within BNI with the same dedication he brings to his own businesses.
When Rotarians decide to change the game
The story of Novas Trilhas begins with a simple but profound question that a group of Rotarians from the Rotary Club of Santana de Parnaíba and Aldeia da Serra asked themselves more than two decades ago: "What can we do for the children in our region who are in vulnerable situations?"
The answer did not come in the form of a one-off donation or an isolated action. It came in the form of a lasting commitment. On January 21, 2001, the Novas Trilhas Association was born — not as a charity-driven project, but as a true platform for social transformation.
Today, on a 30,000-square-meter site that even includes a wooded area, the project offers much more than a physical space. It offers what every child deserves, but not all have: opportunity.
More than education: a development ecosystem
The name "Novas Trilhas" — New Trails — was not chosen by accident. Just as a trail offers multiple paths to reach a destination, the project understands that each child needs a unique set of opportunities to develop their full potential.
For children and teenagers aged 6 to 11 in situations of social vulnerability, Novas Trilhas offers after-school activities that go far beyond academic reinforcement. There are programs on citizenship, computing, reading, physical education, cultural workshops and educational outings. Everything designed to develop not only the cognitive, but also the social, cultural and emotional sides of these children.
"It is not enough to take a child off the streets for a few hours. We need to offer them real tools so they can build a different future," explains the project's philosophy, which works with concepts of citizenship, development, ethics, character and respect as fundamental pillars.
The real differentiator of Novas Trilhas, however, lies in something many social projects neglect: working with the families.
The Trail of Doing: when transformation arrives at home
What good is it to transform a child's life during the day if at night they return to a fragile family environment? Novas Trilhas understood early on that real change has to be systemic.
That is why it created the "Trilha dos Fazeres" (Trail of Doing) — a program of support and guidance for the families of the children served. More than assistance, the project works toward the economic emancipation of these families, equipping them not only to break out of vulnerability, but to become protagonists in the development of their own community.
There are vocational workshops, guidance on income generation, psychosocial support and actions aimed at the overall well-being of the family — regardless of color, gender or religion. Because real transformation does not exclude, it includes.
The BNI Connection: when giving to receive takes on new meaning
Duílio Beneton is not at Novas Trilhas only as a financial manager. He is there as someone who has understood that the BNI "Givers Gain" philosophy goes beyond business. When he represents the project within the network, he is not just looking for donations — he is inviting entrepreneurs to be part of something bigger.
"Every entrepreneur who gets to know Novas Trilhas understands that there is a way to generate impact that goes beyond individual success. When you help a child gain access to quality education, when you empower a family to break free from vulnerability, you are not just doing charity — you are building a more just and prosperous society for everyone," Duílio reflects.
And BNI, with its culture of genuine connections and mutual support, is the perfect environment for that message to resonate. Because successful entrepreneurs know that the true legacy lies not in what we accumulate, but in what we transform.
Impact that multiplies
Since its founding, Novas Trilhas has served hundreds of children and teenagers. But the real impact is impossible to measure in numbers alone. How do you measure the value of a child discovering the joy of reading? How do you quantify the difference it makes when a teenager realizes they have the potential to go to university? How do you fit into a spreadsheet the moment a mother lands her first job after years of dependency?
These are the results Novas Trilhas delivers — and they are only possible because entrepreneurs, Rotarians and BNI members understand that shared success is multiplied success.
An invitation to walk together
Novas Trilhas does not only need financial resources (although they are always welcome). It needs time, skills, connections and what entrepreneurs have that is most valuable: expertise.
You can contribute with donations, yes. But you can also offer vocational workshops in your area of expertise. You can open doors to employment for the families served. You can share knowledge that is routine for you, but for someone in vulnerability can be revolutionary.
As the project itself says: "Together, we can walk this path and make a difference in the lives of many children, contributing to a better and more compassionate world."
And at BNI, where genuine connections are the most valuable currency, this opportunity to be the change we want to see in the world is just one conversation away.
Because in the end, when we look back on our business journey, we will not just remember the contracts closed or the profits made. We will remember the lives we touched, the opportunities we created and the new trails we helped others discover.