I came to Brazil with the intention of combining my two passions: education and sustainable development.
Education:
January 2012
-After a few months of joblessness, I decided to pick up the slack and look for work as an English teacher. I got a job at CNA (Cultura Norte Americana). I made good friends here, friends that I continue to see now that I have left CNA. I also, gained much experience using and exploring the potential of smart boards (or e-boards). But, working Saturdays, was not for me, and as I had predicted "things fell into place almost naturally". Through a staff member at CNA, I met Davida, who wanted to take private French classes with me. When I met Davida, she also told me that an International School happened to be looking for a grade 7/8 teacher to begin as of immediately. It was a job right up my alley.
March 2012
-For a few months, I kept up both my job at CNA and the new exciting job at the International School of Macae (ISoM). Admittedly, teaching all the core academic subjects for grade 7/8 was a challenge. But an awesome experience. By June, I had completed a full semester at CNA, and sent in my resignation letter. I was looking forward to having one job, and reclaim my weekends for travel.
July 2012
-In July, after an amazing 2 week trip back home and some travelling in Brazil, I returned to work at ISoM. However, thanks to a bit of rearranging, I was now set to teach only my subject area: Social Studies from grades 7-12. I couldn't have asked for anything better. Subjects included: World History, World Geography, American History, American Government, World Cultures and a Global Studies and Perspectives (where current events can be discussed in student-led course). While this has been challenging in and of itself, I am learning so much along the way. It has truly been a pleasure to work at the school, many times it doesn't even seem like work at all.
Sustainable Development:
Nov. 2011
-During my few months unemployed, I took advantage of the time off to do a one-month internship at TIBA (Intuitive Technology and Bio-Architecture). Here I was really hoping to see an example of a sustainable model, and learn and practice permaculture. The experience was inspiring, but I was somewhat disappointed upon leaving, somehow hoping to have seen more, to have witnessed something very different and inspiring.
June 2012
-Once I started working at CNA and ISoM, I had little time to devote to visiting other sustainable development initiatives, but I managed to take a few days off work to check out the Rio + 20 Earth Summit and join a delegation from Canada World Youth. While, it was inspiring to see civil society actors coming together, demanding change, I was disappointed that seemingly, nothing concrete, had really come out of the UN summit. It was a mere reaffirmation that heads of state are more interested in keeping the economy going then actually saving the very foundation (the resources) upon which the economy runs.
October 2012
-During a long weekend in October, I had a chance to go to another place I had wanted to visit, namely, Instituto Visao Futuro (Future Vision Institute), which is located in the interior of the state of Sao Paulo. Here again, I was curious to see the inner-workings of a sustainable community. I had amazing conversations with individuals here, and I started to get a glimpse of a path I'd like to embark on.
-All these experiences, gave me the inspiration to try to combine both education and sustainable development.
Combining Education with Sustainable Development:
July 2012
-My drive to combine education with sustainable development, has been met with mixed success. In my classroom, after weeks of showing my students documentaries, having discussions, and doing activities about environmental issues, I had hoped to awaken some sort of environmental engagement, but was disappointed when this wasn't achieved. But, I haven't given up hope yet...
October 2012
-I have got the green light to start a vermicomposting project at school. Taking in the school's organic waste produced by the cafeteria, and transforming it into fertilizer with the help of red worms. I've got the system up and running now, and it's been pretty exciting so far. Lot's of trial and error along the way. In the new year, I'm hoping to design lessons around vermicomposting. While I am starting small (only able to take in 150 litres of organic waste per month), I hope to eventually be able to take all the organic waste produced by the school and transform it back into soil.
January 2013
-The school (after 2 years of planning) will be investing in an 'outdoor classroom'. An area the size of a classroom with a table and seats, bushes, plants, trees and four garden plots for the students to plant. This is supposed to be constructed over the summer holidays (Dec/Jan). I'm not holding my breathe, but when it is eventually completed, it will end up being the final destination for the nutrient rich natural fertlizer that my worms are producing. If we can grow some foods that end up at the cafeteria, we will have completed the entire food cycle. Where food waste from the cafeteria is transformed back into food for the cafeteria. This would be an amazing achievement. I plan to get students involved in every aspect of this cycle.
Where do I go from here? I really am liking working with education. I want to bring in environmentalism into the school, one step at a time. I want to visit schools like the 'Green School' in Bali one day, to check out their initiatives. Who knows, maybe be a part of creating 'Green School #2' somewhere here in Brazil.
My recent trip to Visao Futuro, also sparked another interest. Checking out some more alternative education models. I listened to Jose Pacheco (who started a successful alternative school in Portugal). School with no classrooms, few teachers (and many volunteers), no bells, no official start and end times, student-driven curriculum. Taking in students that were deemed 'lost causes' and transforming their lives through this kind of education, seems almost too good to be true. How does this all really work practically? I'm really curious to know. I'm thinking of trying to volunteer sometime at one of Pacheco's schools he's been developing here in Brazil.
I've got some general bearings, we'll see where the wind takes me from here. But, that's all part of the excitement. And while, I'm missing family and friends back home in Canada, this adventure has been amazing and I have no regrets. I have been learning so much along the way. I have met some remarkable people. I have some freedom to bring alternative projects into education, projects, that I know would be met with much more bureaucratic red tape in a public school in Canada.
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