Provide Quality Education to 15000 Amazon Children

In April 2023, Vaga Lume, with your support, held a training in production of Handmade Books, in order to strengthen the pillar of local culture in the communities. The workshop's methodology is based on listening to the elders' stories of traditional communities in the Amazon, thus promoting the preservation of traditional practices and identities.

Three communities were involved with 22 participants and 5 volunteers from the local team of Soure, in Pará. 

The first day of the course was spent integrating and reviewing the principles of the reading mediation course. In the evening there was a storytelling session with the storytellers: Dona Izabel, Seu Catita, Seu Teófilo, and Seu Vazinho.

The second day of the course started with a dynamic in which the participants could build mandalas with elements of nature, representing their individual construction and the relationships with the group. The afternoon was spent constructing the first version of the written story.

At night, the Cultural Night was a party to revive traditions with the presentation of the "boizinho" (little bull) led by the teenager Alexandre and the "Folia de Reis" (traditional folk dance) group with the leaders of the Pesqueiro community. The special thing about the Cultural Night, besides the presentations, was to involve the younger children, their parents and the community to watch the presentations!

The third day of training was dedicated to finishing the text, beginning the assembly of the book, and beginning the illustrations, as well as beginning the finalization of the book.

The last day of the course was the conclusion of the book manufacturing, as well as the collective evaluation of the training, the closing party, and the reading of the books to the storytellers.

Participants' testimonials

"I believe that it is fundamental, the importance of children learning our culture and the elders teaching so that it doesn't die. It is our legacy."

"It was cool and innovative, I heard stories from my own community that I didn't know."

Links:

• Visit our website
• Connect with Vaga Lume via LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram

Vaga Lume was one of the winning organizations in the first edition of the United Earth Amazônia Award, a prize created by Marcus Nobel that follows the same selection and evaluation criteria as the Nobel Prize.

We won in the ESG category, that represents the concern of organizations to act with respect to environmental, social and corporate governance issues.

Lorena Nery, who works as a volunteer in the state of Amazonas, participated in the ceremony, representing all Vaga Lume’s volunteers and donors.

"It is a great joy to know that Vaga Lume won this award. We are aware of the individual and collective efforts to build a quality education through literacy. And knowing that recognition has come, is of extreme happiness", (Lorena Nery).

It is very important to us at Vaga Lume to share this news with you, since our achievements are only possible because of your engagement and care.

Thank you for your contribution in promoting access to reading and education in communities in the Amazon. 

About United Earth

United Earth is an international organization that recognizes and promotes environmental leadership and humanitarian excellence around the world. It is chaired by Marcus Nobel, a descendant of Alfred Nobel, and focuses global efforts, resources and programs on an unprecedented challenge: uniting the peoples and nations of the Earth in building a collective and sustainable future.

Learn more about the United Earth Amazônia Award by clicking here

Links:

• Visit our website
• Connect with Vaga Lume via LinkedIn
• Follow us on Instagram