Children of Amazonas have many challenges to achieve a good education.
Project Title: Workshops for children and teenagers of Amazonas
Period: 2007 – 2010
Location: Peruvian Amazon rainforest
Sponsored by: Amazon Action
For someone who has not visited remote places of our planet, it’s difficult to understand the living conditions of its inhabitants. Amazonian communities are isolated and sometimes the distances are so big that educational opportunities are scarce. Many teachers live in cities nearby, and they have to travel long hours or even days by boat to go to the school that has been designated to them by the Ministry of Education. That means they have little time for their own family and that, along with the lack of resources, can reduce their motivation to teach.
On the other hand, Amazonian parents do not see the importance of their children’s education. They would prefer them to stay at home to help with micro-agriculture activities. Those who suffer the most from this lack of education and interest are the girls.
Between 2007 and 2010, together with my business partner Marco Schneider, we designed and worked in after-school workshops for children and young people from small Amazonian communities. Through artistic-educational activities, we reinforced concepts such as self-esteem, proactivity and humour, which are fundamental factors for resilience. Many collaborators joined us in our small initiative, like Miguel Olimar, Katharina Bette, Julia Reinhhardt and Maria Aguilera. Each one of them used their knowledge to contribute to the project. We implemented workshops on painting, crafts, hygiene, and recreational activities such as game afternoons, sports, theatre, outdoor cinema and summer classes.
Educating together
The development of a community depends on the internal resources of its members. A community that is positive and resilient can overcome many challenges. Through art, people can visualize a new world full of possibilities, and “paint” their future day by day with creative actions.
