We believe that children are the key to a sustainable future: we want to transform them into bearers of knowledge, respect for the environment and defenders of the Amazon ecosystem.
The Baixo Rio Branco-Jauaperi Reserve is inhabited by approximately 1,500 people, divided into 14 communities. In the region there are no public policies for the management of solid and liquid waste (mainly plastic, sheet metal, aluminum and glass objects, household appliances, fuels, detergents and chemical products, etc.) and each village must independently provide for collection and disposal of the waste, eliminating it on site or transporting it to the disposal centers in the cities of Manaus and Novo Airão, approximately 400 km away. In the majority of cases, villages do not have river and economic means to deal with this transport and the waste produced lies near inhabited areas or is discharged into the river.
Despite the strong bond and dependence on the surrounding environment for food, travel, the construction of residences and means of transport, the inhabitants of the reserve have acquired habits and customs specific to the urban context in recent decades such as consumerism, use of plastic and fossil fuels.
The notion of the environmental risk inherent in the use of industrialized products did not arrive together with the globalization of consumption, There is a lack of knowledge to carry out adequate separate waste collection and correct separation of waste materials. There is a lack of awareness of the polluting potential of waste sewage and fossil fuels which are often discharged into rivers, deteriorating the water resources used for food consumption and personal hygiene.
Environmental education, understood as awareness of the value of the forest, its natural resources and the integrity of the environment, is an essential cornerstone for the conservation of the forest environment and therefore, for the survival and sustainable development of the populations of the region .
Over the years, Amazônia has carried out various environmental education actions, including the organization of courses and seminars for adults residing in the reserve, with the aim of containing harmful activities to the forestry heritage. We organized intensive workshops with theoretical lessons and practical exercises in the forest, with particular attention to climate issues. For the younger segment of the population, including children and adolescents, we have created numerous environmental education opportunities, through moments of reading, drawing, and educational games.
In 2022 we carried out a pilot project involving 5 schools in the Jauaperi Reserve. The project ended with great success and a unanimous request to continue from local communities, parents, teachers and authorities. autorità.
In 2023, River of Light expands, carrying out environmental education actions in the 14 schools of the reserve to disseminate the value of the forest, its conservation and traditional knowledge, waste management and its correct disposal and the measures necessary to prevent pollution of river waters.
Our Key Objectives
-Raise awareness in 10 communities about the importance of preserving the environment and the Amazon rainforest.
-Involve 185 children in cleaning the villages and the surrounding environment.
-Enhance the teaching skills of 10 teachers.
-Economically benefit 25 adults involved in the execution of the project.
-Involve 100 native families in the educational and economic benefits of the project.
-Contribute to strengthening the education of Native youth and the sustainable management of their communities.
How do we do it
Educators are helping to bridge the gap between traditional wisdom and contemporary understanding. Through engaging lessons and hands-on experiences, they are cultivating a generation of environmentally conscious individuals who will serve as guardians of the rainforest’s future.
Engaging Lessons: We use an approach that combines explanatory lessons with multimedia material adapted to the children’s age. Through educational videos, animations and photographs, we want to raise awareness among young people about the importance of protecting the environment.
Fun and educational activities: We have designed fun and engaging activities both in the classroom and outdoors. Through games, creative workshops, experiments and moments of sharing, we intend to strengthen children’s motivation and create a stimulating learning environment.
At the end of the journey, there will be a ceremony for the delivery of certificates of participation, inviting the families to take part.
The project is the result of collaboration between the education departments of Amazonas and Roraima, ICMBio, CoopXixuaú, Amazônia and Amazon Charitable Trust, with the support of Rothoblaas, Trentino Insieme, Fosit, Riccio Giramondo, Fondazione Quarta de Matteis and Torchiani Servizi Ecologici.
A big thank you to Projeto BioClimAmazônia – INPA and FAPEAM, Laboratório de Psicologia e Educação Ambiental – INPA for the teaching material and to the educator Renata Almeida for the precious work carried out.
This collaborative effort is a shining example of what can be achieved when diverse entities come together with a shared purpose.
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