Communities Program sP

The objective of this Program is contributing to the development of Vila Albertina Community, a district in São Paulo City´s North Zone. Communities SP Program propitiates activities that strengthen the cooperation networks via social and educational actions performed by the schools, the organizations and the community, guaranteeing debates about sexual rights, health and reproductive life with the participation of teenagers, young people and their families. The projects are named Arredores (Outskirts), Sexualidade em Ação (Sexuality in Action) and Formação de Agentes Sociais (Education of Social Agents) focused on children, teenagers, young people and adults (mostly women) and the professionals of governmental schools.

The Project entitled Formação de Agentes Sociais (Education of Social Agents) educates the community´s women to be multipliers of knowledge and practices regarding citizenship, guaranteed rights, health, women´s empowerment, sexual and reproductive rights, among other themes. Important actions are performed in the community during this two-year course, such as service rendering, information supply and network strengthening.

Using performances, interactions, games and ludic activities, the project entitled Sexualidade em Ação(Sexuality in Action) also focus on discussions related to health, sexual and reproductive rights, gender equality and diversity. Themes such as gender, prevention of sexually transmitted diseases, Aids, among others, are approached in a simple and informal way.

The gender theme was one of the most important subjects discussed during this year. Several educational meetings took place to gather the professionals of Gol de Letra and the teachers of the governmental schools that were our partners, enriching the discussion and guaranteeing a more inclusive practice in relation to gender in the workplace.

The Community´s development is the purpose of the Project named Projeto Arredores (Outskirts Project), which represents the actions of local partners and players, rendering service and information to the whole Community, with events concerning citizenship (for instance, Gol de Cidadania and Semana da Cidadania), helping the community members with document issuing, legal guidance, thematic workshops, and other activities.

There were also arts events, for instance, Sarau da Cidadania (a cultural evening) with the participation of a poet, Sérgio Vaz, Puppets´ Theatre at the Governmental School (Escola Estadual Vila Albertina), during the Citizenship Week. The Program included the planning and execution of Festival Gol pela Igualdade (Goal for Equality Festival), reinforcing the integration between the institution´s projects and strengthening the theme related to women´s empowerment.

“I consider 2016 as my de-construction year, based on the education we received during it. I had no idea of the significance of being a social agent. Now I have a different regard concerning my community, the women and the human being, in general. I can assure you that my life is not the same, it is much better now, I am an empowering woman, full of self-esteem, a human being with less prejudice and eager to share what I learned as a social agent.”

Jacqueline Ferreira Flores, 29 year old, Social Agent

“Our partnership with Fundação Gol de Letra´s professionals is helping us a lot, mainly in relation to certain assistance services, to which we did not have access in the past. Regarding the workshop on Sexuality, talking about its importance is redundant in the present times. Most of the children and families here belong to low social brackets and the parents do not feel comfortable to approach such complex theme; therefore, this kind of assistance is extremely important. Personally, the form and methodology to present such subject is very interesting, leaving the children at ease to express themselves about their thoughts and their daily lives. Regarding the results with the children, I can certainly say that this year´s work contributed a lot in a positive way, clearing their doubts and taboos.”

Carlos Alberto de Souza, 38 year old, educator at the Center to Children and Adolescents - CCA Vila Albertina, where the workshops of the Sexuality in Action Project take place.

“The Citizen Week at Escola Estadual Vila Albertina was intensively discussed by students and teachers in the classroom. An important integration of the school with the community. The important participation of Mrs. Eva propitiated to the students the opportunity to “work  their hands on the ground” , i.e. plant  a seed of Crotolaria,  a plant used to combat the dengue mosquito. The theme entitled "Dengue", developed by the Health Care Unit, led to a performance at the Puppy´s Theatre, it was a ludic way to learn about the subject. The students liked the Citizen Week very much, which ended with the presentation of the posters made by them.”

Cristiane Menechini, diretor of   Escola Estadual Vila Albertina, a member of Rede Local Vila Albertina.