By Carla da Hora Duailibi | Comunication Coordinator
Hello everyone! We hope you are well!
We're very happy to share some hot news from Iracambi, straight from the Atlantic Forest. We've got news about a prehistoric plant, cultural exchange between volunteers and the community and reforestation. Thanks to the solidarity of our donors, we are still going strong in our efforts to reforest this important biome and make a difference to the community. Our year has just begun! Let's keep going together.
Happy reading, and have a great week!
Iracambi Team
Samambaiaçu: a plant from the Atlantic forest that has existed since the time of the dinosaurs
Samambaiaçu, popularly known as Xaxim, is a fascinating species from the Atlantic Rainforest. Our Environmental Education Coordinator, Dayana Duarte, explains that the samambaiaçu has a very fibrous trunk that is much sought after and used in gardening. Its rampant exploitation and illegal harvesting led to it being listed as endangered in 1992. In other words, it has been protected by law ever since. Link to video below.
Samambaiaçu has no flowers, fruits or seeds. Its reproduction is based on very small spores that remain under the leaves and need ideal conditions to multiply. It takes 100 years to reach ten metres in height, which means that it grows slowly. Isn't it sad to think that a species that has existed for millions of years, since the time of the dinosaurs, could become extinct because of human activity?
Cultural exchange: Together we are part of one world
Isabel Schroer, the Iracambi volunteer who produced this incredible video and wrote the text, has a story and a very beautiful message to share with you that says a lot about our NGO. Link to video below
“The aim of the cultural exchange project is to promote cultural exchange between Iracambi's volunteers, most of whom come from other countries, and students from the communities surrounding the NGO. This initiative allows the students to broaden their horizons and learn about new realities. Each week, a volunteer presents the riches of his or her country, its culture, environment, sports, curiosities and cuisine. To enrich the experience, they prepare typical dishes for everyone to try. Before the presentations, the students practise their English in small groups, which helps them to feel more confident in communicating. The students also proudly presented Brazil, Minas Gerais and the stories of their own community. The presentations included music, traditional dances and moments of interaction that made learning easy and fun. It was an exciting exchange, full of learning and new perspectives. Cultural exchange goes beyond learning about other cultures. It's an opportunity to practise languages, build bridges and reinforce the idea that 'TOGETHER WE ARE PART OF ONE WORLD'.”
Let's celebrate Women and Girls in Science Day
To celebrate the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, 11th February, we share (link to video below) this beautiful testimony from 11-year-old Isadora, one of the Young Ecoleaders trained here in Iracambi in last year's girls' class. The project engages students from the region in immersive experiences in the Atlantic Forest and hands-on learning to foster a new generation of environmental champions. At Iracambi, we believe in the transformative power of education in nature. Through hands-on experiences and engaging programs, we prepare students to protect this biome which is so vital to our region, the country, and our planet.
Links:
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