A Jewish school in Rio de Janeiro that was once facing closure has undergone a dramatic revival after a group of parents and local entrepreneurs stepped in to save the institution, with support from the Yael Foundation.
The Chai School, located in the Barra da Tijuca neighborhood, was at risk of disappearing after the management of Colégio A. Liessin announced in 2023 that it would close its local branch, which served as the only Jewish school in the surrounding area.
Concerned that losing the school would accelerate assimilation and weaken Jewish life in the region, a group of parents initially raised funds to keep it operating before securing millions of dollars to acquire the institution. It now operates as the nonprofit Chai School.
The Yael Foundation subsequently awarded the school a grant to subsidize essential staff and help establish the professional infrastructure needed for sustainable growth. The foundation also paired the school’s staff with two principals who provide ongoing mentorship.
The results have been immediate. Enrollment has increased from 163 to 210 students in just six months, reversing years of decline. The school currently serves students from nursery through ninth grade and has set a goal of reaching 500 pupils within five years, with plans eventually to establish a high school.
“This is far more than the rescue of one school. It is the protection of a Jewish community’s future," said Chaya Yosovich, CEO of the Yael Foundation.
“These parents refused to accept that the decline of Jewish education was inevitable. They demonstrated vision, courage and an extraordinary commitment to ensuring that their children, and generations to come, can receive a high-quality Jewish education."
Yosovich said the school’s transformation demonstrates the potential of combining local leadership with professional and philanthropic support.
“The Yael Foundation exists to identify precisely these opportunities: communities with the determination to build a stronger Jewish future, but which need a committed partner to help turn that determination into lasting success," she said.
The Chai School provides trilingual education in Portuguese, English and Hebrew and welcomes Jewish families from across the religious spectrum. Approximately 60% of its students receive some form of scholarship assistance, allowing the school to serve a broad cross-section of the local Jewish community.
The parents who founded the school continue to serve voluntarily, concentrating on strategy, fundraising and long-term development. New educational directors have been appointed, existing staff members have been retained and learning and recreational spaces have been renovated.
The Yael Foundation says its involvement reflects a broader strategy of investing in Jewish education by strengthening educators, leadership and institutional capacity rather than focusing solely on buildings or short-term projects.