a true example of a loving educational environment
by Renata F. Dalla Bernardina
What if we were to describe schools where learning was a loving and unprecedented experience, where students’ creativity and inventiveness were stimulated and where spirituality was experienced through teachers’ and staff´s loving attitudes? Four of these schools can be certainly found in São Paulo, Brazil, where a Neohumanist Education project, coordinated by Didi Ananda Jaya since 1998 and now reaching a total of approximately 450 children and teenagers, takes place.
São Paulo is the world’s 4th largest city by population. As a cosmopolitan, melting pot city, it presents the challenges that are common to cities like these, for example social inequality, violence, illiteracy and environmental issues.
Located in vulnerable communities in the northern and southern region of the city, the project is developed in three different schools with more than 100 children each, from 0 to 4 years old, and in the fourth unit, through the “Skywalker Project”, with around 80 children from 4 to 9 years of age. All these educational institutions aim at providing the safe and loving environment that these areas need so much, and to have a meaningful impact on families and communities that feel and interact with the school, learning from children important attitudes to face challenges that are presented to them daily.
These educational centers, as regular schools, must also follow guidelines provided by the Brazilian Government, as well as state and city laws. It is, therefore, another challenge that has been overcome by the pedagogical and administrative staff that, nowadays, reach a total of 85 people.
Each unit develops its neohumanist pedagogical plan considering not only the aforementioned guidelines, but also specific aspects of each location’s social and economic demands
Classes are always very carefully planned and are carried out aiming to address all dimensions of children´s existence. Creativity, love, understanding and caring for one another and the world around us can be easily witnessed when attending one of these classes and being close to the children. Whether the children are doing activities, eating or resting, teachers are always caring for them, watching their needs and attitudes, and providing an environment where they can build up their self-confidence, loving hearts and pro-active behaviour.
Projects are carried out throughout the year, always with very clearly stated learning and developmental objectives and a field of experience as indicated in the Brazilian law, while also considering the layers of mind as pointed out in Neohumanist Education. The curriculum certainly includes yoga, meditation, shantala (infant massage), and lacto-vegetarian diet but it is also very attentive to practical life, such as cooking, psychomotricity, and other activities.
An example of this, the Project “Plants” is carried out with the purpose of making “flower stamps”. This project has the objective of developing drawing and painting abilities using different kinds of inks and tools so that children develop scientific, creative and critical thinking, while they experience colors, sounds, traces and shapes. When considering the layers of the mind, the project also addresses the intellect, senses and creativity.
The “Skywalker Project”, focused on children that have already attended the pre-schools, besides continuing teaching yoga, meditation, dance, English and art classes as the other schools do, also develops school support. Children surely need to better understand the subjects taught at school, and families do not always provide the necessary support they need. The project also aims at creating opportunities for the community to develop their self-esteem and overcome situations of injustice and neglect, such as through the partnerships established with health professionals.
It is certainly very hard work faced by everyone involved in all four institutions. Although there is an agreement with the administration of the city of São Paulo that enables monthly government subsidies that cover 90% of the monthly budget corresponding to salary payments for the staff, it does not cover all the expenses and it does not provide any amount to the “Skywalker Project”. To be able to cover these expenses, Didi and the staff constantly need to count on the collaboration of people who believe in the work and are willing to help.
It is a struggle to develop all levels of human existence and guide the child gradually and happily to the goal of infinity. At the same time, it is a very moving example of true education that does not neglect any expression of human consciousness and creates a so necessary loving environment in the world.