Read About the World, Rewrite Life

Location: 

Outlying neighbourhood of Tapana (52,000 residents) in Belém, capital of the State of Para, Brazil

Context and objectives:

Most primary school children are at least two school years behind. The work conducted with the schools demonstrated their difficulties in dealing with learning and behavioural problems, especially among children from families in social risk situations (violence, unemployment, alcoholism, etc.). The objective of the project was to prevent marginalization situations by conducting work that brought the various educational stakeholders together: parents, teachers, association representatives and, of course, the most interested parties, the children.

Actions:

To improve educational opportunities and the care of at-risk children

- Mobilization of schools and conduct of participatory diagnostics with them; establishment of partnerships and specific action plans

- Training of 50 teachers from 50 public schools from the perspective of reinforcing literacy practices and the social role of teachers in educational institutions

- Workshops with children and their parents at schools

To improve children's written/spoken language relation and thereby their confidence in themselves and their abilities to become complete citizens

- The approach drew on each child's experiences at home and in the neighbourhood to support the construction of words, sentences and texts.

- Literacy workshops for six groups of 20 children between seven and 13: stimulation of oral and body expression, local stories and legends and broad usage of artistic techniques such as painting or collage; active listening and discussing experiences hold an important place.  Reading corners are designed, and volunteer teachers ensure they are maintained.

- Gardening workshops to encourage Amazonian culture and draw from the creative potential and diversity of regional plant life
- Evaluation and programming meetings took place regularly. Eighty percent of children improved their reading and writing level and their communication and expression ability (sociability) during the project. 50% of parents participated and were involved in the educational process.

Direct beneficiaries: 120 children aged 7 to 13 with major reading and writing difficulties and/or in social risk situations
Indirect beneficiaries: The children's families and school personnel, about 3,000 people

Partners:

- In Belém, partners were APACC, the FUNPAPA Foundation and the local children and adolescents’ rights council
Essor supported this project mainly by obtaining private funds.