Agroforestry Family House (Cfaf) celebrates 15 years with virtual meeting

Celebration of Cfaf’s 15 years was held at Zoom platform

Institution offering contextualized education to the rural area is a partner of Odebrecht Foundation in the implementation of their Social PrograM

Even in the midst of the pandemic caused by Covid-19, the Casa Familiar Agroflorestal (Cfaf) was able to adapt and celebrate its 15 years of history and discuss Education in times of pandemic. On June 22, the Zoom meeting had the presence of community members, students, educators and the pedagogical team of Cfaf, Fabio Wanderley and Cristiane Nascimento, and the representatives of the Odebrecht Foundation, Joana Almeida,  of Unesco’s Associated Schools Program, the Secretary of Education of the State of Bahia, Jerônimo Rodrigues, the Mayor of Nilo Peçanha, Carlos Azevedo, in addition to representatives of the State Coordination of Education in the Countryside (CEC), the Education Departments of the Cities of Nilo Peçanha, Ituberá, Igrapiúna and Taperoá, the Local Council for the Rights of Children and Adolescents of Nilo Peçanha.

During the ceremony, presided by Rita Cardoso, director of Cfaf, Secretary Jerônimo Rodrigues highlighted the challenges of education in the current scenario and the importance of the institution’s work. “We keep together and we will not put the health of our families at risk. We are preparing to return to normal classes when the time is right, with the necessary support, because the Family House exists to teach citizenship and qualify local education. despite this very difficult moment we are going through, I am very happy to be able to share this anniversary with everyone here, because I see the competence of educating our students so brilliantly,” he said.

Representing Cfaf, President Maria Castro thanked everyone for their participation, including partners and social investors, in a life-changing education. “Our school has one of the best education methods in the world, making it so special. Thanks everyone who is part of it and contribute to making this possible”. On behalf of parents and students, the former President of the institution, Rosenilda Apóstolo, also commented: “It is Cfaf’s anniversary but we’re ones who got the present. The Casas Familiares transform not only the lives of our children, but that of our families, and family farmers,” he said.

Integrating education

Recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC) and accredited to the State Council of Education of the State of Bahia, Cfaf offers a High School level Technical Professional Education Course in Forests for young people from the ages of 14 to 18, who are the children of family farmers. This training takes place with the Pedagogy of Alternation methodology, in which students alternate one week of school and two weeks on their properties, where they get visited by monitors and apply the knowledge acquired in the Casa. Inserted in an environment with predominance of maroons, the institution incorporates this cultural origin into its curriculum through actions that bring young people closer to local traditions, redeeming their identity.

Verônica and Jamily Conceição, Cfaf students

These actions are also anchored in the performance of the PDCIS, Odebrecht Foundation’s Social Program, which promotes sustainable territorial development in alignment with the goals of the Sustainable Development Objectives. To Fabio Wanderley, the Foundation’s Superintendent, the joint action with Cfaf is essential for the Program to achieve its goal. “With the PDCIS, we seek social, economic, and  environmental transformation of the living conditions of people. And we know that when young people is prepared for life, they are a fundamental link to promote this change,” he said.

For sisters Veronica and Jamily Conceição, 14 and 17 y.o., students at Cfaf, this change is already underway: “the school has brought a new vision of entrepreneurship in the field and we are more committed to our activities and this is something we learn from the educators. Now we know a way have a better future”said Jamily.

Recognitions

– In 2015, became a member of the UNESCO’s Associated Schools Program.
– In 2018, recognized with the Sustainable Development Goals Award (SDG) Brazil. Selected from more than a thousand applicants, Cfaf was awarded the 2nd place in the category “Educational Institutions”, Research and Extension”.
– In 2019, became a member of the Eco-Schools Program, an initiative of the Foundation for Environmental Education in partnership with UNESCO and the United Nations Environment Program.
– In the same year, their social technology was certified by the Fundação Banco do Brasil (FBB), in recognition to the work of “Socio-Productive Inclusion of Young Family Farmers”.