The following excerpts are from the statement of the Legion of Good Will (LGW) forwarded to the United Nations Economic and Social Council 2011 High-Level Segment, which has Education as its main topic. The recommendations are the result of the experience of more than six decades of the LGW in this area and the result of extensive social mobilization efforts promoted by the Organization through the 8th Solidary Society Network Multi-stakeholder Forum – 5th Innovation Fair, having held 13 events between 6/22/2010 and 4/1/2011, in South America and Europe.
Rio de Janeiro School Massacre
This document was prepared under the emotional impact of the tragedy that took place on April 7, 2011, when 12 children were victims of a massacre at the public school where they studied in Rio de Janeiro. As with similar cases in other parts of the world, the assailant was a victim of bullying earlier at the same school and also suffered from mental illness. The fact that these individuals grew up without such disturbances being precociously diagnosed and treated deserves the reflection of the entire society.
| Foto: Vivian Ribeiro |
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For this reason, the LGW promotes discussions on education with a different approach: “a view beyond the intellect”, as extolled by educator Paiva Netto. Showing a concern that goes beyond curricular content, the LGW considers the values and subjectivity of each student, formed by a pedagogical proposal that combines development of the intellect with the perspective of Ecumenical Spirituality, guided towards a Culture of Peace. The Organization’s work is therefore best summarized by the expression: “Here one studies—Brain and Heart are formed”.
This new concept expands the sense of citizenship and renews the hope that tragedies like the massacre in Rio will never be repeated. Moreover, it multiplies the positive impact of innumerable stories of triumph by demonstrating that a complete development of individuals is possible for a solidary society. (Read more about this proposal on page 46)
| Foto: Charlote Brum |
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Education in troubled areas
In the largest public safety operation in recent Brazilian history, the Rio de Janeiro government in partnership with other spheres of public power has installed Pacifying Police Units (UPPs) at various favelas throughout the city. In areas formerly under the control of drug traffickers and clandestine militias, the state has begun to offer essential public services, complemented by the decisive action of non-governmental organizations, such as the LGW. In this way, the exclusion conditions that favor criminality are gradually reversed.
The case of 12-year-old Maria (a pseudonym to preserve the girl’s identity) is emblematic. As a resident of Providência, a poor community in Rio, Maria’s brother was enticed by drug gangs and killed in a confrontation with the police during the takeover of the favela. As a result of this tragedy, she became apprehensive that her life would follow a similar fate. After the confrontation, the police started building ties of trust with the community, counting on specific training and the support of partner associations.
| Foto: Vanessa Veras |
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The girl and her family now live in a new reality. Currently, she takes karate classes offered by the UPP-Providência and has even won medals in competitions. These achievements reflect an even greater transformation made possible through the UPP’s project, which is supported by the Legion of Good Will. According to reports from the LGW’s multidisciplinary team, the emphasis on emotional development helped the girl overcome her trauma. Anger and fear gave way to kindness and hope, expressed in a new harmonious way of life.
Her story reflects those of many other children and adolescents in the community and demonstrates the success of this methodology, which can be replicated around the world, especially in conflict areas.
Recommendations
Among the recommendations gathered, based on a broad survey, we highlight the following:
— improve the use of information and communications technologies in schools, involving educators, parents and relatives in educational programs, as well as developing interdisciplinary projects that allow the use of these tools in actions that benefit communities;
— involve various social actors (such as companies, universities and civil society organizations) in joint strategies to strengthen the teaching process, creating new educational spaces in communities;
— strengthen the performance of professors, emphasizing academic courses oriented to education, adopting continuous learning programs and incentives to make an educational career more attractive;
— train and prepare teachers to work with diversity, including children with special educational needs. Greater emphasis should also be given to themes aimed at promoting social justice and sustainable development;
— develop actions to promote multilingualism in Latin America, beginning with teacher training courses, in order to rescue the people’s native culture;
— create or strengthen mechanisms to make the management of schools more decentralized, counting on the effective participation of parent associations and members of the community;
— improve the management of schools and education networks, optimizing spending and relieving professionals of the pedagogical area from bureaucratic and administrative processes;
— establish effective legal mechanisms for cooperation between the public power and community schools, considering their specificities;
— promote a broad global discussion regarding the parameters for testing students, considering the cultural characteristics of each country and the needs of the new economy.
| Foto: Nathália Valério |
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| RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Mr. Andrei Abramov carefully watching the performance of the Karate athletes, who were showing this sport’s technique that requires concentration, teamwork, respect for the opponent and discipline. |
The LGW thanks all of its partners, especially the support and participation of various organs of the United Nations System in Latin America. It also thanks Mr. Andrei Abramov, Chief of the NGO Branch of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, who as a keynote speaker attended the main conferences and provided invaluable insight and guidance throughout the whole process.
The organization makes itself available to collaborate with UN Member-States and civil society organizations committed to strengthening education worldwide. And it reiterates its vanguard defense that the deepest and longest lasting social transformation begins with education.
In the words of the LGW’s leader: “Educated, instructed and ecumenically spiritualized people are those who have broken the chains of poverty and thrown them away. (...) While efficient education desired by all those of common sense does not prevail, any nation will suffer the captivity of the limitations it imposes upon itself”.
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