One of the projects created by Instituto Velho Amigo is "Education at Home and in the Community." This initiative caters to older persons dedicated to their learning phase, with the primary goal of fostering autonomy among the participants.
In São Paulo, we are fortunate to have various parks and museums, with Ibirapuera Park being a prominent tourist attraction. The park encompasses diverse cultural facilities, including the Afro-Brazilian Museum, which showcases aspects of African culture, highlighting the shared cultural elements between Brazil and Africa.
Despite Ibirapuera Park's status as a key attraction in São Paulo, an insightful survey conducted by educators revealed that 100% of the older persons who participated in the project had never visited the museum, and only a few were aware of the park. One of the project's central objectives is to promote inclusion through community-based education, intergenerational engagement, and meaningful learning, thereby enhancing the participants' quality of life, self-esteem, and a sense of ownership and empowerment over their lives.
Beyond introducing participants to new spaces, the impact of this visit extended to individuals who identified themselves as multi-ethnic Maurícia, 71, expressed, "I've always had to work a lot and ventured out only a few times. Now, I'm allowing myself to explore more. I truly enjoyed learning about the history of my ancestors; as a multi-ethnic woman, I felt represented." Similarly, José, 69, shared, "I had never visited the Afro-Brazilian Museum. I particularly enjoyed the section about the Quilombola people, as it reminded me of my life in the Northeast of Brazil in the countryside."
