Educação do Campo - Episódio 5 - Práticas Inspiradoras

Summary

This episode of the Rural Education series highlights the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares in Maranhão, Brazil, as a model of sustainable education. By integrating technologies like permaculture, organic farming, and water conservation, the school aims for self-sufficiency while fostering community empowerment. With a focus on collective learning and development, the school encourages students to take action and become change-makers in their communities. The episode challenges young people and educators to apply these sustainable practices and create thriving, self-sufficient rural communities, offering a call to action for future transformation.

Takeaways

• 😀 The importance of integrated technologies for transforming rural communities, including schools, farms, and households, to promote sustainable living.
• 😀 The Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares in Maranhão is striving to become a center of excellence in field education, focusing on community empowerment and sustainable practices.
• 😀 Pedagogy of alternation, inspired by Paulo Freire's philosophy, is used to help students learn through real-world, hands-on experiences and social involvement.
• 😀 The goal of the Casa Familiar Rural is to become self-sufficient in food and water, with a focus on producing their own resources and avoiding reliance on external sources.
• 😀 The implementation of a water well system in 2016 ended the dependency on water trucks, significantly improving the school’s water supply and also benefiting the surrounding village.
• 😀 The school initiated a project to clean and level a pond, incorporating aquaculture (fish farming) as part of their sustainable agricultural practices.
• 😀 A remarkable achievement was the planting of 10,000 trees in 10 minutes in 2014, involving over 9,000 people, showcasing the community's collective commitment to environmental sustainability.
• 😀 The students are not only learning technical skills but also gaining an understanding of environmental responsibility, social issues, and the importance of collective work.
• 😀 The program emphasizes the value of sharing knowledge and empowering students to bring positive change to their communities, with a focus on addressing challenges such as deforestation, illegal resource exploitation, and the use of pesticides.
• 😀 The education system in rural areas is framed around two key principles: ‘My place is here,’ emphasizing local development, and ‘Caring for future generations,’ ensuring a sustainable future for both people and the environment.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the 'Educação do Campo' series?

The series focuses on promoting sustainable agriculture, food security, water management, and community development in rural areas, particularly through integrated technologies and collective action.

How does the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares contribute to community development?

The Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares provides educational opportunities for youth from multiple communities, combining learning with practical activities that promote self-sufficiency in water and food production, and community empowerment.

What does the term 'Centro de Excelência' mean in the context of the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares?

In this context, 'Centro de Excelência' refers to the goal of the institution to become a model for rural education and sustainable development, offering high-quality education while addressing the specific needs of the local community.

What challenges did the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares face before its transformation?

Before its transformation, the school faced a lack of infrastructure, resources such as water and food, and energy. However, despite these challenges, the students were motivated and eager for change.

What role did water play in the transformation of the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares?

Water was a major issue at the school. The installation of an artesian well, with a partnership that provided water to the school and surrounding community, was a key achievement, eliminating the need for water truck deliveries.

How did the community and students contribute to environmental sustainability?

Students and community members engaged in various environmental projects, such as planting 10,000 trees in 10 minutes, promoting sustainable agriculture practices, and creating a fish farming project to improve local water management.

What is the significance of 'permaculture' in the educational practices at the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares?

Permaculture is central to the school's teachings, as it emphasizes sustainable farming practices, water management, and ecological awareness. The students are taught to integrate these principles into both their academic and daily lives.

How does the pedagogical approach of 'alternation' contribute to the learning process at the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares?

The 'alternation pedagogy' allows students to alternate between practical learning in the community and theoretical lessons at school. This approach fosters a deeper connection to the material and ensures the skills learned are relevant and immediately applicable to students' lives.

How does the Casa Familiar Rural Josimo Tavares plan to expand its impact in the future?

The school aims to expand its technologies and teaching methods to reach more rural communities, creating a model for rural education that is sustainable and adaptable to the needs of different localities.

What are some of the practical exercises suggested for students in this series to enhance their community involvement?

Students are encouraged to invite neighbors to their schools to create organic food gardens in mandala patterns, and to map the technologies and cultural practices that can be applied to enhance food and water self-sufficiency in their communities.