123s blog

corpoECOlogia: Manuela Berardo, JUN/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 04:16:00 +0000

PATRONATO OPERÁRIO DA GÁVEA
Rio de Janeiro, Junho de 2010
Professora: Manuela Berardo

Mês das vozes!

Criação de soluções para o lixo, reunião de pais, comentários no blog e opiniões sobre os vídeos feitos até hoje.

Muitas idéias surgiram para solucionarmos o problema do lixo: fizemos um grande painel e colocamos na escola para todo o mundo ver.

No meu desenho:

"O robô levou o lixo para o espaço"

~ Rodrigo, 9 anos, aluno

"O caminhão de lixo estava pegando todo o lixo num dia de muito sol"

~ Enzo, 9 anos, aluno

"Eu ia pegar o lixo todo, separar para reciclar tudo"

~ Rafael, 9 anos, aluno

"As lixeiras estão jogando o lixo na lixeira de reciclagem"

~ Pedro Arthur, 7 anos, aluno

"Apareceu um super herói, o caminhão do lixo e um furacão que levou o lixo todo. O furacão levou o caminhão para pegar o lixo"

~ Guilherme, 6 anos, aluno

Nosso encontros no mês foram marcantes:

Fizemos uma reunião de pais em que conversamos sobre o projeto e descobrimos como o corpoECOlogia é querido pelos alunos e incentivado pelos pais.

Eles foram convidados a entrar no site e no blog e nos ajudar com a educação ecológica de seus filhos.

Na aula de informática, os alunos puderam navegar no blog e site da 123s, ficaram bem felizes com os vídeos feitos pela Stephânia: os comentários estão lá.

Agora temos um email: corpoecologia[[arroba]]gmail.com; ficaremos felizes em receber uma mensagem! A professora de informática vai ajudar a turma a continuar a freqüentar o blog e o email.

Em sala, revisamos todo o fundamento das três ecologias do projeto e criamos um lindíssimo painel sobre o lixo.

~ Manuela Berardo, Junho de 2010

corpoECOlogia 2010 - retrospectiva

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 13:00:00 +0000

123s agradecimentos a Stephânia Imperial, estagiária do projeto, pela gravação e edição do vídeo!

ECOnsciousness: Peris Siamanta, JUN/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 03:54:00 +0000

ISINET & ENKII PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Kimana, Kenya, June 2010
Teacher: Peris Siamanta

I will never forget this month because we started with giving out t-shirts for the students. Now we have our new identity. Tatiana and Carolina were there to witness this and we were all happy. I with the eco-movement went to Ilkisonko secondary school and opened a club 123s there. We visited Sumat who was in Enkii primary school and was a member of the club. We encouraged her to continue with the club which John and I will be visiting frequently.

We discovered that John had some special unique talent or skills that can be of use for Club 123s. we asked him if he would like to join the club and after one day of thinking about it he accepted. WHOA!! WHOA!! WHOA!!

I also enjoyed working in a very different way that I have never done before. We grouped the student into four groups. This was the book group, video group, painting group and dancing group. Tatiana was working with the dancing group, Carol with the book group, John with the painting group and I was with the video group.

The video group visited some places in Kimana taking pictures and we happened to visit Mr. Wonderful who offered to give us 100 trees. We could have bought these trees but it saved some money in our budget. Mr. Wonderful is a farmer who is trying to educate community in planting fruit trees from different parts of Africa. He is encouraging us to plant trees that can even withstand cruel climates.

When this 2nd semester project is approved we can take his trees and start working immediately. We would like to start working on 5th that is on Monday.

These trees will be of great help to the students and the community because for the first time in their lives they will have fruits in plenty. I am sorry to say that some of us don’t eat fruits even for one year!

We received Club123s t-shirts and we couldn’t be any happier. We were lost for words and thanked the donors by clapping our hands for them. I think they felt it in their hearts. We gave the yellow t-shirts to Enkii and the blue t-shirts to Kimana primary school.

I got the certificate and now I can't wait to take it to Greenbelt Movement and see what they will help us with. I will ask them to help us with materials or funds for the fence. My next project in July will only be for the fence, because we have had many offers even from the government for giving us trees but we cannot plant more trees unless we have the fence. I must tell you that we visited a certain farmer with Tati and Carol and he promised to give us 100 trees but we need the fence first so that we don't lose the trees to the goats. I will also visit the universities and some companies to see if they will help us with the fence, even if they will just give the materials.

We concluded this month by having a party with Tatiana and Carolina and students which was very successful. We also had some presentations from all groups which was very fantastic. We later had evaluations and we had some useful remarks from the students which I would like to quote. “I am happy because I have never used a video camera but now I know how to use it.” A girl student said, “I am happy because this club is making us equal with men.” The smallest boy in the club said, “I made something that I have never made before, a hat!” Another one was so excited and was lost for words so he said, “PAMOJA TUNAWEZA!” he ran back to his seat the others laughing at thim. He said the last but not the least words!

On 25th was the saddest day for us. We had already gotten used to Carol and Tati and now they were leaving. I just realized that it's not only me who doesn't like the parting part. We cried a lot. I cried when she was bidding farewell to the students. I cried when Tatiana and Carol were bidding farewell to my family and I also cried at the airport.

I must say that eco-movement to Kenya has left a big impact to Club 123s. I am sure we will never be the same again. We are better, stronger and happier.

LONG LIVE CLUB 123s
PAMOJA TUNAWEZA SANA!!
Peris.

ECOmovement to Kenya: JUN/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 14:02:00 +0000

ENKII PRIMARY SCHOOL
Kimana, Kenya, June 2010
Letter to Enkii teachers
from Tatiana Kessedjian & Carolina Matos

After a few days of the conclusion of the ECOmovement to Kenya project in the city of Kimana, we send this gratitude letter and reporting to all Enkii Primary School employees who, such as us, carry out the complex but rewarding task of teaching.

First of all, we would like to thank the headmaster Mr. Lenjasi for kindly opening the school doors for the fulfillment of the ECOnsciousness and ECOmovement projects, as well as for trusting that these projects can bring significant benefits to the local community.

Now please allow us to make a brief reflection about the unforgettable experience we had at that school, in June 2010, when we shared precious time and knowledge with Club123s’ students.

As you know, both of us, Tatiana Kessedjian and Carolina Matos, are art-educators of the Brazilian NGO 123s that supports the Club123s in Enkii since 2008, led by the teacher Peris Siamanta.

Through the same NGO we idealized ECOmovement to Kenya with the aim of creating a supported project, that would be able not only to serve and strengthen Club 123s, but would also observe, understand and learn from the Maasai community and culture.

We truly believe that there is no teaching without learning and no learning without teaching; therefore we did our best to open our hearts and minds to understand, learn and live the lifestyle of that place, that is so different from our reality.

The challenge was great, the doubts and difficulties were enormous, but in the end the beautiful experience, learning, smiles, looks and hugs rewarded all challenges.

The day we arrived at the school we were received by all Enkii students, who surrounded us with curious, scared and attentive look, making clear we were strange people, different people for our appearance, nationality, customs and culture. At that moment we felt a mixture of anxiety, joy, uncertainty, hope and fear, but with a free spirit we moved forward, confident that the project would happen in its best possible way.

In the first lesson we noticed some students were moving to and fro, many side conversations, other students moving on top of tables and a crowd of curious children hanging at the window what drew the attention of the Club123s students. We tried to create a new organization format in the classroom, because in our point of view this would be essential to the smooth progress of the project, and at the same time we were wondering how to find the balance between giving and receiving.

The question that came to us was: How to be open and receptive to a different culture, system, customs and at the same time allow ourselves to bring new knowledge that could be beneficent to the community? This still is a difficult question to be answered and maybe we’ll need much time for a good response, but the most important thing is that the intention in finding the middle way was always present in our hearts.

From the following classes on a beautiful relationship of complicity and friendship with students was created, and they naturally started to respect us and trust in our proposals. Unfortunately by that time two rather unpleasant situations happened and we would like to report them now.

One day during our work, a Enkii School teacher who attended our class, directed and threatened an inattentive student with a wooden stick. In another day, in the course of our activity, we witnessed some of our students kneeling on the patio waiting for a physical punishment. After receiving the punishment they cried, they physically and emotionally retracted, and some of them went home feeling unable to keep up with our class after that.

In those days, we, as women, educators and citizens of the twenty-first century felt so threatened and assaulted as our students.

We understand that different countries and cultures have different views of life and education, but we would like to share our point of view about it and kindly ask you to open your minds to listen to us. If what we are going to say makes some sense in your hearts, please think again, reconsider your positions as educators, as knowledge facilitators and citizens, the ones responsible for the country's future.

We truly believe that violence only generates more violence as well as love only creates more love; so we decided to educate with firmness and love rather than using force and pain.

In second place, we believe that everything in life is constantly changing and so the concept of education has gone through frequent changes everywhere in this world. We would like to let you know that the act of punishing students through physical violence is totally lagged in terms of educational development worldwide. More than that, hitting in order to educate is a human rights violation and against the law for the protection of children and adolescents that exists in many countries nowadays.

Our experience in Enkii has shown that it is possible to find new ways to educate and the proof is that at the end of a one month project we won the respect, affection, trust, creativity and commitment of the students without using any kind of physical punishment.

So we ask you from the bottom of our hearts to reconsider the way of educating and encouraging discipline. Have you no doubt that progress in education is always seeking for the best for the school, teachers, students and the nation.

In resume we would like to clarify that we do not have a derogatory and discreditable image about Africa; on the contrary, we understand the cultural differences of this continent as a beautiful, inspiring and fascinating way of living. Precisely by recognizing this magnitude, which is expressed through empathy, generosity and sharing of the African people, particularly the Kenyans, we believe that in union with many other countries we can rebuild together our vision of education as well as our vision about the capacity of African students in assimilating such transformation.

We are fully available for any comment, feedback or reflection that you would like to share with us.

Thank you very much for the attention, affection and willingness you showed during our stay in Kimani.

May you all be happy and successful in all you do.

With love,
Tatiana and Carolina
tatiana[at]123s.org.br
carolmatos[at]uniaodasarvores.org

ECOnsciousness: Peris Siamanta, MAY/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 04:28:00 +0000

ISINET & ENKII PRIMARY SCHOOLS
Kimana, Kenya, May 2010
Teacher: Peris Siamanta

This month started with a lot of anxiety, because we were having Carolina and Tatiana coming to be with us. Teachers, students and me were all getting ready for them. We were having some problems because mum, who is also my assistance, was often very sick and I had to travel a lot. Thanks to the headteacher who assisted me in everything.

I went to Nairobi to pick my friends and I was happy to be at the airport for the first time. I also got the chance to shake hands with the world champion maraton runner who was coming back home at that moment.

I was still working on the library, because I have noticed that Kenyan people don't read a lot and especially environmental books. I had to tell the teachers, my friends and brother to help me find these books. My brother William was the first person to respond. He gave me very nice books that I had to give Tatiana one of them.

We went to Enkii school, where my friends got to meet the students and the teachers. It was a good start and I knew ECOmovement to Kenya was going to be great! Isinet was not doing very well, because I had not gone there for a long time and my father and the assistant teacher went for a transfer, so the students were left like a flock without a shepherd. The three of us started Club123s in Kimana primary school and we all loved it. I will write about it in June report. I will be going to Isinet once a week just to keep the flames burning!

John, my husband, is with us and he is helping us a lot in many ways. He usually helps me with Club123s work whenever I need him. One day he had to travel from Mombasa to come and help me with the video.

We received Club123s t-shirts and we couldn’t be any happier. We were lost for words and thanked the donors by clapping our hands for them. I think they felt it in their hearts. We gave the yellow t-shirts to Enkii and the blue t-shirts to Kimana primary school.

I got the certificate and now I can't wait to take it to Greenbelt movement and see what they will help us with. I will ask them to help us with materials or funds for the fence. My next project in July will only be for the fence, because we have had many offers even from the government for giving us trees but we cannot plant more trees unless we have the fence. I must tell you that we visited a certain farmer with Tati and Carol and he promised to give us 100 trees but we need the fence first so that we don't lose the trees to the goats. I will also visit the universities and some companies to see if they will help us with the fence, even if they will just give the materials.

The most important thing we did was to separate the garbage. The ECOmovement did this for us and we are happy to learn a new way to dispose our garbage. We are having two bins. One for organic and another one for non-organic garbage. We have not known what to do with the non-organic but when I go to Nairobi I will try to find some companies that can buy the non-organic for us and we can create income for the Club. The only thing we are short of is the dust bins. We went looking for them in all Kimana town and we could not find them. There were some very expensive ones but we did not buy them. We are using the old buckets; but the non-organic ones we are keeping them in a plastic bag. We are insisting that the kids try and get two buckets for each kid’s home.

Nailaen, Club123s apprentice, did all the work I asked her to do in April. She interviewed many people and I have filed the papers in the 123s file. The people gave their ideas, suggestions and contacts.

LONG LIVE Club123s!
Pamoja tunaweza!!
Peris.

AME: Daniel Saito, MAI/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sat, 26 Jun 2010 13:00:00 +0000

OFICINA DO SUCESSO
Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, Maio de 2010
Professor: Daniel Saito

Dança.

história do mês
O urso, já conhecido por sua força, tem um andar pesado característico. Neste ciclo lunar, ele aprendeu a flutuar.

Descobriu que é possível tirar força da suavidade, urro dos céus. Experimentou mover montanhas com a ritmo de seus quadris.

Começamos a explorar o valor do urso que está além de sua persistência e disciplina. Sua fortaleza está em seu coração. Em sua valentia e generosidade estão seus pilares para o reino dos céus. A ele foi concedido a guarda do 'Livro Vermelho'.

reflexões e aprendizados
Desabafo minha preocupação em relação ao pequeno número de alunos. Questiono-me se estamos fazendo uma abordagem correta, se a quantidade de energia investida é o suficiente e se é o lugar para o AME florescer.

Ensinamento:

"De tudo, ficaram três coisas: a certeza de que ele estava sempre começando, a certeza de que era preciso continuar e a certeza de que seria interrompido antes de terminar. Fazer da interrupção um caminho novo. Fazer da queda um passo de dança, do medo uma escada, do sono uma ponte, da procura um encontro."

~ Fernando Sabino

Bolsa Professor-Semeador: inscrições abertas!

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 07:32:00 +0000

Acabamos de lançar o edital da Bolsa Professor-Semeador para projetos de educação ecológica do 2º semestre de 2010.

Você pode ler o Manual da Bolsa e baixar uma inscrição em branco para submeter um projeto até o dia 10 de Julho de 2010.

Conheça os 123s projetos que semeamos no 1º semestre de 2010.

corpoECOlogia: Manuela Berardo, MAI/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 15:34:00 +0000

PATRONATO OPERÁRIO DA GÁVEA
Rio de Janeiro, Maio de 2010
Professora: Manuela Berardo

Cuidar conhecendo, conhecer cuidando, cuidar para conhecer, conhecer para cuidar.

A escola Patronato Operário da Gávea localiza-se ao lado da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, um dos cartões postais do Rio de Janeiro, onde encontramos fauna e flora abundantes, além de, infelizmente, muita poluição!

Neste mês conhecemos um pouco sobre a história da Lagoa, desde a época da colonização e em sala dramatizamos a história com adereços e interpretação. No fim da história, sabe o que acontece? Um moço resolve ajudar um dos problemas mais sérios da Lagoa: o lixo!

Ele tem um projeto de reciclagem, além de explicar para todos os que jogam lixo na Lagoa, porque não se deve fazer isto. Os bichos apoiaram o moço e convidaram os alunos do Patronato para conhecerem sua casa: fomos à Lagoa procurá-los e brincar por lá!

No passeio cada um tinha uma missão: encontrar o bicho da figura que recebeu da professora. Caranguejo, galinha d’água, urubu, Maria Branca, João de Barro, mãos à horta!

"Eu não achei o caranguejo; acho que é porque tem muita poluição e também porque os bichos só aparecem quando querem"

~ Pedro Arthur, 8 anos, aluno

Teve lanche saudável com frutas, sucos sem açúcar e biscoitos integrais; teve muita brincadeira no parquinho e nas árvores da Lagoa.

E o lixo na Lagoa? Será que o lixo é mesmo um vilão? Continuando o intercâmbio dos projetos da 123s, recebemos a visita da nossa querida Adriele Santos, professora-semeadora do projeto reciclArte em São Paulo.

Adriele nos mostrou que muita coisa que poderia ir para o lixo pode virar arte e com ela construímos lixeiras para iniciarmos a coleta seletiva na escola. Também fizemos uma brincadeira para aprender a separar o lixo; ela nos ensinou a fazer um boneco de página de revista muito legal e nos mostrou produtos feitos por alunos do projeto reciclArte.

Terminamos o mês visitando o Galpão das Artes Hélio Pellegrino, um lugar repleto de obras de arte feitas com os mais diversos materiais que, num contexto comum, seriam jogados fora.

"Nossa tudo aqui parece arte! É tão lindo!"

~ Davi, 6 anos, aluno

"Achei bacana o encadeamento das aulas: conhecemos os bichos da Lagoa em sala, fomos procurá-los, descobrimos o problema do lixo e depois ao visitarmos o Galpão vimos as maravilhas em que o lixo pode se transformar"

~ Stephânia Imperial, estagiária

"A reciclagem também pode fazer uma pessoa velha virar bebê?"

~ Maria Eduarda, 7 anos, aluna

"A criatividade transforma problema em solução."

~ Manuela Berardo, professora-semeadora

Reflexo - por Deborah Cavalcanti

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 16:58:00 +0000

PATRONATO OPERÁRIO DA GÁVEA
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Abril de 2010
Depoimento sobre o projeto corpoECOlogia

No mês de abril tive a oportunidade de acompanhar algumas das atividades desenvolvidas pelo projeto corpoECOlogia. Primeiramente, participei de uma reunião com a coordenadora Manuela Berardo, em que os objetivos do projeto para o primeiro semestre de 2010 foram esclarecidos. Nesta reunião, falou-se da importância de se construir um 'banco de memória' das ações do projeto, através de registros em audiovisual e redações. Para tanto, a presença de algum estagiário na área de cinema e/ou letras seria importante para o projeto e, ao mesmo tempo, poderia facilitar a aproximação da universidade com a comunidade de seu entorno, aproximação esta entre aluno e sociedade, ajudando a se pensar a ação cidadã a ser desenvolvida no e/para o mundo.

Após a seleção de duas estagiárias de cinema, que quiseram participar do corpoECOlogia, realizamos uma reunião com a dupla em que a história e o objetivo do projeto foram contadas, em um clima de aproximação da equipe e engajamento das ações necessárias ao cumprimento das etapas direcionadas ao presente semestre.

Em seguida, participei da primeira aula do semestre, na creche Patronato da Gávea e pude perceber a importância do projeto às crianças que dele participam, e o engajamento da estagiária Stefania.

Por motivos profissionais não pude participar das atividades que se sucederam, mas em reunião com Manuela Berardo soube do sucesso na implementação da continuidade do projeto na escola.

Fico feliz em poder acompanhar, mesmo que agora não de tão perto, as atividades do corpoECOlogia, pois acredito que, como as sementes, este projeto plantado há mais de três anos agora se faz florescer.

Com o empenho das facilitadoras, até o final deste semestre, os frutos poderão ser repartidos e saboreados por muitos que acreditam em iniciativas como esta, servindo de fonte de inspiração para outras sementes e como fonte de debate para a própria universidade.

Quanto a mim, espero poder soprar o vento que espalha a semente e ajuda a fortalecer a espécie Hommo Oikos...

Viva!!
Que haja vida ao ser humano.

~ Deborah Cavalcanti

Ububele Farewell Letter

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:41:00 +0000

Please watch below a video-statement by Getti Mercorio, Ububele's Chief Executive Officer, and read his farewell letter to the bodyECOlogy project.

Dearest Tatiana,

Your letter moved me very deeply. I will think more about your loving comments, so keenly observed and so accurate. Thank you for your wonderfully honest and caring feedback.

I do want to say how much you and your work have meant to all of us at Ububele. You are a beautiful, free spirit who brought light and love into the lives of our children. They will always remember you.

The concert last week was very special – conveying your essence, that inner Tatiana that is so creative, loving and vibrant. So many parents have commented this week on what a wonderful event we held and how much they enjoyed seeing their children shine.

You have made a deep impression on us, and we are forever grateful for your care, your incredible talent for the community work, for your boundless energy and your love of life that you shared with us so generously.

We will miss you and will always hold you dear in our hearts. May you be happy, healthy and successful in all that you do.

With love,

~ Getti Mercorio, Ububele's CEO,
Johannesburg, 21 of May, 2010

bodyECOlogy: Tatiana Kessedjian, MAY/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:27:00 +0000

Johannesburg, May 2010
Teacher: Tatiana Kessedjian

This is the last month of the bodyECOlogy project at Ububele pre school. After being developed for 9 months, the project comes to an end; so it’s time to say good bye and celebrate all the moments we spent together as well as to open a new project of art & ecology that will give continuity to bodyECOlogy.

On 15th of May, we’re going to have an exciting art & ecology event which will integrate parents, students, teachers and staff for the project completion. Then, our children will dance, sing and talk about the theme UBUBELE UBUNTU.

Actually teachers, staff and students will express together, through an artistic concert, their feelings of UBUBELE UBUNTU. Afterwards, we will have a workshop for adults and children followed by a delicious lunch.

So our goal in May is to prepare and accomplish our beautiful event.
Let’s all start our work?
"Together we are able." ☺

Our last 4 weeks were exhausting, but finally the great day has arrived. Our theatre is lovely, full of dolls, balloons, beautiful drawings and musical instruments. In the auditorium we can see so many proud eyes and smiles. Our children are beautiful, wearing colored UBUBELE T-shirts and barefoot... They are so excited playing and running while waiting for the start of the concert.

The generous 'capoeira' group, led by mestre Estivador, is here again to assist us to express the meaning of UBUNTU through their songs and movements. We also have two kind cameramen, Eduardo and Douglas that are ready to document this special day and a friendly DJ, Bruno, who will help us with the sound equipment.

Raviolly looks a little bit anxious holding his Mbira, the teachers and staff are in a hurry to finish arranging the students and the lunch, and myself... I don’t even know how to explain...

I’m feeling a mixture of emotions... I’m delighted, anxious, nostalgic, sad, excited, grateful, amazed...

So, It’s time to start:
"Welcome everybody... I hope you all enjoy our event.
UBUBELE UBUNTU powerful. Feel it!!!"

Our concert was wonderful and moving, full of life and joy. I’m sure that everybody that was part of it had lots of fun and was touched by UBUBELE UBUNTU. Children, teachers, staff and musicians did very well together.

The capoeira workshop for adults was a success, we could see people from different age, gender, role, color and physical structure together enjoying and trying to learn the amusing and challenging movements that were being taught.

And the lunch... UAU!!! It was absolutely delicious and just confirmed that was made with much love by Mama Evelyn and her generous helpers.

So our event is done and breaks my heart to say that It’s really time to dismiss. On the other hand I feel very happy that Raviolly will continue to water the seed that was planted during the last 9 months.

Raviolly, enjoy it! I wish this small seed can become a great Baobab tree.

I thank so much you all from UBUBELE, you’ll definitely remain in my heart forever!!

Please click here to watch a video-statement by Getti Mercorio, Ububele's Chief Executive Officer, and to read his farewell letter to this initial phase of the project.

All love,
Tatiana Kessedjian
Johannesburg, May 2010

bodyECOlogy: Tatiana Kessedjian, APR/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:03:00 +0000

Johannesburg, April 2010
Teacher: Tatiana Kessedjian

As part of our proposal to engage parents, teachers and staff in a more consistent way, we’re going to accomplish an art & ecology event in May that must integrate all the adults and children involved in Ububele institution. Therefore, our main goal this month will be to research a nice theme for our event and start working on it.

What should we talk about? What theme suits our understanding and feelings about bodyECOlogy and Ububele? Let’s think about it, let’s feel it!!

Considering that the pre-school will be closed from March 29th to April 11th, for Easter, we must work hard on these three weeks left.

There is nothing more inspiring than watching children... their plays, their smiles, their eyes, their rhythms, their spontaneity. They are so generous, so naturally human. In fact, when we have an open heart we get involved and learn a lot from them.

It was a typical day of bodyECOlogy class when I got a special feeling of affection and connection towards my little students. I realized my great joy for being back to school from holiday; my gratitude for working there and my early sense of longing due to the approaching end of the project at Ububele.

'Coincidentally', that week I was wondering what should be the theme of our event, so when I got home a word suddenly came to my mind: UBUNTU.

I had heard about it sometimes in Africa, but quite honestly I was not entirely sure about the meaning of this word. I made a research about Ubuntu and realized we had found the subject for our event. UBUBELE UBUNTU!!

I took the theme back to the children, teachers and Raviolly, who warmly embraced the idea. Then, we began creating our concert, drawing and writing at home, with our relatives, about UBUBELE UBUNTU.

Please watch below a statement of Hope, teacher at Ububele pre-school, about the bodyECOlogy project, and a drawing by the students about the meaning of Ubuntu:

~ Hope,
Ububele pre-school teacher

Johannesburg, April 2010
Tatiana Kessedjian
tatiana@123s.org.br

bodyECOlogy: Tatiana Kessedjian, MAR/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:18:00 +0000

Johannesburg, March 2010
Teacher: Tatiana Kessedjian

This is a special month, as we’re going to welcome the new monitor: a musically talented Mozambican who will accompany us until the end of the project at Ububele pre-school. Afterwards, he will develop his own art & ecology project that will give continuity to the bodyECOlogy and must have the same principles of the present project.

We will also have other special guests: a capoeira group led by Mestre Estivador. They will give a workshop to the children in order to conclude the work about shapes, colors and numbers that we began to develop last month.

The children quickly welcomed Raviolly, the new monitor. Through musical approaches he provided moments of learning and joy at Ububele, captivating students and teachers. He also assisted bodyECOlogy classes, creating musical accompaniment for our corporal activities and bringing playful proposals of paintings and drawings.

The Capoeira workshop was a success. The children just loved it and remained singing the songs they learned there, as well as swinging their bodies to and fro, in order to make the 'ginga' movement the whole month.

We had a wonderful month! The children had lots of fun and we exchanged great experiences with different professionals. In fact, I’m very happy to realize how many interesting people are involved with the bodyECOlogy project and willing to assist us.
Please watch below the musical statement Raviolly made specially to the bodyECOlogy project:

~ Raviolly, bodyECOlogy monitor

Johannesburg, March 2010
Tatiana Kessedjian
tatiana@123s.org.br

bodyECOlogy: Tatiana Kessedjian, FEB/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sat, 15 May 2010 05:36:00 +0000

Johannesburg, February 2010
Teacher: Tatiana Kessedjian

The second phase of the project at Ububele begins this month and it aims to:

ally bodyECOlogy activities with Ububele Pre-school's goals;
encourage the entrance of a new art-educator and
engage parents, teachers and staff in the project more consistently.

According to the school planning, shapes, colors and numbers will be our main theme in February. However, how to associate shapes, colors and numbers to dance, music and movement? Not so difficult. Let’s try and we might have fun!

In a beautiful sunny day, we had classes with special teachers... 'Humble' squares and triangles taught us about coordination, directions, rhythm and attention. Simple shapes drawn on the ground were of great importance to our learning as they really helped us to understand where is the front, the back, the right side and the left side.

We interacted with the space, learned the square movement and danced the waltz of the triangle. We played with different shapes in the space and on the body, seeking ways to transform our bodies into geometric shapes.

At the end, we erased out the shape-drawings, but the knowledge they brought to us remains in our memories and hearts.

Please watch below a video-statement about the bodyECOlogy project:

~ Hillary Hamburger,
Ububele's co-founder and early childhood director

Johannesburg, February 2010
Tatiana Kessedjian
tatiana@123s.org.br

corpoECOlogia: Manuela Berardo, ABR/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Fri, 14 May 2010 21:15:00 +0000

PATRONATO OPERÁRIO DA GÁVEA
Rio de Janeiro, Abril de 2010
Professora: Manuela Berardo

Recomeço, corpo, registro, novidade, encontro, grupo, alegria, ecologia. Iniciam-se as aulas de 2010! Algumas expectativas...

"Eu espero maior contato com crianças, seu desenvolvimento com o meio ambiente e o espaço a sua volta".

~ Stephânia Imperial, estagíária

"Espero crianças, logo os jurados mais exigentes, pois elas não têm a menor vergonha em demonstrar sua insatisfação quando não satisfeitas. Além disso, espero me divertir, pois sei que somente assim obterei êxito em meu trabalho. E por último, espero ansiosamente encontrar antigos conhecidos dos saraus passados; quero ver como eles cresceram."

~ Daniel Saito, prof. projeto AME,
sobre aula especial no corpoECOlogia

Contamos uns aos outros quem somos a partir dos nossos movimentos e brincadeiras favoritas.

O recomeçar do corpoECOgia no Patronato brotou de muitos encontros:

a entrada da Stephânia como voluntária para filmar e produzir registros visuais,
a visita da Deborah Cavalcanti que nos acompanhou como psicóloga ano passado,
a aula de AME (Arte Marcial Ecologia) ministrada por Daniel Saito que inaugurou o intercâmbio entre projetos da 123s e
o encontro pessoal do grupo com a percepção de si a partir das propostas de consciência corporal.

Aprendemos este mês:

"Aprendi que não se deve jogar lixo no chão e que é importante cuidar do corpo."

~ Enzo Canuto, 9 anos, aluno

"Fico feliz em poder acompanhar, mesmo que agora não de tão perto, as atividades do corpoECOlogia, pois acredito que como as sementes, este projeto plantado a mais de três anos, agora se faz florescer."

~ Deborah Cavalcanti, 24 anos, psicóloga

"Aprendi e estou aprendendo, a repensar meus próprios conceitos com relação à educação, o meio ambiente e as pessoas."

~ Stephânia Imperial

"Aprendi mais uma vez a perceber e respeitar o tempo das crianças, os quais têm um tempo tão próprio e sincero, pois logo que se sentem satisfeitos demonstram claramente que já foi o bastante. Desta forma, reaprendi a criar os trabalhos com as crianças e me permitir ser afetado por elas."

~ Daniel Saito

"Cada dia é único com seus humores e amores."

~ Manuela Berardo

How to Promote Intercultural Health ?

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Tue, 11 May 2010 05:10:00 +0000

On 23rd April, 2010, Dr. Noly Fernandez, national director of the Indigenous Health Department of Venezuela, spoke at SIT (School for International Training) on Health Care as a Human Right and Intercultural Medicine in Venezuela.

It is inspiring to listen to her efforts on bridging two cultures in the 21st century, respecting traditions of both and aiming to create a bond bigger than each of them, this is...

...you'll have to listen to her to know what this bond means :)

Click here to sign up for our free iTunes podcast and listen to the story.

Note: if you don't have iTunes installed, click here to download the mp3 of the lecture.

AME: Daniel Saito, ABR/10

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Mon, 10 May 2010 04:23:00 +0000

OFICINA DO SUCESSO
Rocinha, Rio de Janeiro, Abril de 2010
Professor: Daniel Saito

Toca.

história do mês
O lobo precisou se retirar em sua toca por meio ciclo de lua. Estava doente, tinha perdido sua conexão com a Natureza.

Enquanto o lobo se renovava, uma grande chuva caiu na floresta, alagando grandes extensões de terra, transformando campos em lagos, vales em rios e desnudando aveludadas montanhas.

Certa manhã, o vento que vinha do sudeste assoviou as más novas para o lobo, que se surpreendeu. Mas de onde estava, nada podia fazer a não ser meditar e rezar pelas almas que se afundavam na lama em que se tornara sua casa.

No final da lua nova, o lobo retornou à floresta: viu seu lar destruído. As árvores continuavam as mesmas, mas as novas construções criadas pela nova espécie voltaram a se tornar 'Natureza'.

O lobo voltou aos encontros dos animais, porém ninguém encontrou, pois a floresta estava em luto. A carta que mandara informando de seu retorno jamais chegou aos outros animais que o aguardavam ansiosamente. A garrafa que continha a mensagem ficara presa numa pedra ao longo do rio.

Desta forma, o lobo seguindo o seu caminho, aceitou o karma da solidão e completou o seu ciclo lunar.

reflexões e aprendizados
Estamos no processo de início de interação entre 123s, Oficina do Sucesso e alunos (e familiares). Ainda há desencontros entre pessoas, informações e resistência a mudanças.

Neste mês, ainda não foi possível a reunião com os pais, pois o contato ainda não foi estabelecido. Estamos tentando achar um canal apropriado e eficiente para a comunicação entre as partes.

Segundo Cecília, em nosso último encontro, o meio mais eficiente é através de circulares impressas. Desta forma, providenciaremos isso para o mês de Maio de 2010.

Aceitar o casulo para assim voar."

~ Daniel Saito

reciclArte: Adriele Santos – Mãe das Tampas

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sun, 09 May 2010 05:29:00 +0000

Título: Mãe das Tampas
Autora: Adriele Santos & Maria Santos

Ano: 2010
Materiais: papelão e tampinha de metal
Dimensões: 1m x 1,25m
Onde está a obra: E. E. Eugênio Victório de Liberato, Itaquaquecetuba, Brasil

"Mãe obra perfeita, modelada pelas mãos do Divino e Maravilhoso.
Ser capaz do impossível pra ver sua sementinha virar árvore forte.
Sorrir, chorar, sempre com luzes nos lábio e nos olhos.
Mãos firmes, de guerreira, dona de casa, médica, pai, 'pãe' e uma infinidade de variações de um mesmo ser que temos o privilégio de chamarmos de Mãe Maria, Mãe Ana e outras tantas..."

~ Adriele Santos

Nosso painel é super simples:

[Materiais usados]

Tampinhas de metal;
Cola;
Papelão.

No papelão, risque um desenho e vá colando as tampinhas, até completar o painel.
Use sua criatividade com as cores das tampinhas.
E está prontinho.
Mais fácil que isso é só cochilinho no colinho da mamãe.

"Bom, minha opinião sobre o painel do dia das mães, ficou muito lindo, artesanal, bom trabalho. Muito bom mesmo."

~ Emerson, 20 anos

"Criativo e legal."

~ Daniel Henrique, 10 anos

"Interessante, nunca vi algo assim. Nossa, foram usadas muitas tampinhas."

~ Gabriela Peroni, 10 anos

"Bonito, diferente e criativo. Nossa! Demais!"

~ Mayara Dantas, 10 anos

bodyECOlogy: Ububele Ubuntu Concert

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sat, 08 May 2010 04:31:00 +0000

~ design donated by Marília Palmeira

Inspired by Ubuntu, we named as Ububele Ubuntu our 1st Art & Ecology concert in Africa, at Ububele Pre-school!

Ububele & Ubuntu are words that have their origin in the bantu languagues of southern Africa.

Ububele means kindness, compassion, empathy.

Ubuntu can be understood as humanity to others. Words like respect, helpfulness, unity, sharing, community, caring, love and trust are connected with the feeling conveyed by Ubuntu.

"One of the sayings in our country is Ubuntu, the essence of being human. Ubuntu speaks particularly about the fact that you can't exist as a human being in isolation. It speaks about our interconnectedness. You can't be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality – Ubuntu – you are known for your generosity.

We think of ourselves far too frequently as just individuals, separated from one another, whereas you are connected and what you do affects the whole world. When you do well, it spreads out; it is for the whole of humanity."

~ Archbishop Desmond Tutu,
explaining 'ubuntu' in 2008

We hope you all can be affected by our joy and love on 15th of May. Let’s spread it out... Feel it! Ububele Ubuntu powefull!!

All love,
Tatiana

reciclArte: Adriele Santos – Van 'Marchê'

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Tue, 04 May 2010 00:25:00 +0000

Título: Corvos no Trigal de Papel-Marchê
Autora: Adriele Santos

Ano: 2010
Materiais: tinta gouache & papel-marchê
Dimensões: 30cm x 20cm
Onde está a obra: Escola Casarão-EJA, Itaquaquecetuba, Brasil

"Van Gogh foi um mestre em pintar sentimento intensos. A proposta foi que cada um re-pintasse a famosa tela dos corvos no trigal de acordo com o que sentiam e viam. Alguns sentiram a alegria das cores quentes e outros marcaram com intensidade os sombrios corvos negros."

~ Adriele Santos

Para pintar, use tinta e sonhos. E para fazer a tela?

[Materiais usados]

5 folhas de papel jornal;
100 ml de cola branca;
Uma colher de amido de milho.

Rasgue as folhas de papel-jornal e deixe-as de molho na água por aproximadamente 3 horas.

Depois, bata com água num liquidificador as folhas que ficaram de molho, até obter uma massa densa. Tire toda água e junte a cola e o amido de milho. Amasse bem a mistura e dê o formato de uma tela.

Deixe secar bem e faça a pintura de seus sonhos.

"Fazer a tela foi fácil, mas a pintura foi um pouco complicada; tivemos dificuldade de expôr nossos sentimentos através das tintas; muitos de nós jamais tinham pegado num pincel para fazer um trabalho de arte, mas valeu o desafio, e conseguimos descobrir o nosso lado de artista também."

~ Maria Lopes dos Santos, 52anos

How to Throw a Tomato

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Sun, 02 May 2010 18:37:00 +0000

A group of students at the great SIT (School for International Training) contacted me for an interview on growing food in limited spaces.

I was delighted to share what I learned from the forest gardener Ernst Götsch and what I lived trying to turn a backyard full of cr!@!p into a garden in which once upon a time someone threw a bad tomato and...

...And you'll have to listen to the story to know what happened to this tomato :)

Click here to sign up for our free iTunes podcast and listen to the story. You may also read the interview transcript.

Note: if you don't have iTunes installed, click here to download the mp3 of the interview.

~ Carlos Pittella Leite
123s servant

Adopt is . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 05:00:00 +0000

I shall be called by a new name,
embraced by a fresh pair of arms,
but I shall come and go,
the eternal me."

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Feliz Dia da Terra!

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 13:31:00 +0000

Mãe Terra Brasileira

~ Adriele Santos

Soneto da Árvore

––– Caio pela terra, no relento.
Aguardo, aguardo, escuto a chuva fina...
Dormir: talvez sonhar, saber quem sou...
Acordo num momento –––

Levanto meu pescoço para o céu,
respiro e outro mundo experimento,
desço meus pés profundos lama adentro
e bebo sol com água que ilumina.

Cresço mil braços, com mil pernas vou
andando sob a terra e pelo vento
brinco: sopro mil vidas – num momento –

bailando flores, frutos: movimento:
inspiro uma vez mais a luz do sol,
inspiro, expiro, inspiro, logo Sou.

~ Carlos Pittella Leite

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:13:00 +0000

You see animals
and call them
your resources ;
I see animals
and call them
my relatives."

~ Native-American Knowledge

Você vê animais
e os chama de
seus recursos ;
eu vejo animais
e os chamo de
minha família."

~ Sabedoria Nativo-Americana

Econversation . . .

noreply@blogger.com (Carlos Pittella Leite) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 16:22:00 +0000

PERIS:
Rafiki mwalimu Carlos,
Asante kwa barua yako. I am glad to know that even though you might be silent, you are still planting with me. Thanks. I must confess that sometimes I do feel a little bit disappointed when you or Stephanie stay for long without writing to me...

CARLOS:
Asante sana kua barua yako, rafiki mwalimu Peris!
I will briefly comment your paragraphs,
so to share with you what are my thoughts.
We are always together in planting.
If you feel disappointed at any time,
look to the trees you planted,
look to the kids you planted,
look to the many reports in our blog we planted.
A forest is sprouting.

power structure

PERIS:
I did not know exactly what this meant until I discussed it with John and he told me it is the order of seniority here, I hope he is right and if he is not please elaborate more. In Club123s here in Kenya, I am the main branch of a tree from Brazil. This makes me the head of Club123s here in Kenya. I have other branches from me, that is my mother who is my immediate assistant. I am planning to make Nailaen my assistant when she qualifies for it. I also have the teachers who help me a lot with the kids and the Club. I must mention that Enkii headmaster is very supportive. Isinet teacher is also very devoted. We communicate a lot by phone.

CARLOS:
The power structure is not for me, but for you.
My suggestion-idea is a little different from what you wrote.
Please let me start an hypothetical one here, so you know what I mean with an example:

POWER STRUCTURE REGARDING Club123s

(just an idea with one example for each level of power,
but yo may add everything and everyone you can think of;
of course, I don't know the community as you
and probably all of my guesses will be wrong)

1st column: IN FAVOR OF...
High Power: Green Belt Movement
Medium Power: Headmaster
Low Power: Teachers, Students

2nd column: FENCE-SITTERS
High Power: Any religious leaders? Any other leaders?
Medium Power: National Parks, Wild Animals
Low Power: Community? Maybe community is the most powerful!

3rd column: AGAINST...
High Power: Lumber companies
Medium Power: The Politician you talked to once
Low Power: People cutting trees for money

reports

PERIS:
I send my reports on the first day of each month. I already sent the March report. I am not sure if you would like me to send the April report, but if you would please let me know. There is nothing much that will be happening in April for Club123s. Right now I am in Mombasa. I left an assignment to Nailaen and mum. They will be doing the interviews then I can send you the results in May.

CARLOS:
Please always send reports and videos;
the world is listening
and if you stay silent, it won't listen.

library structure

PERIS:
Currently we are keeping the books in the head teacher’s office and we are running out of space. If we continue buying books, we will run out of space soon. I don’t know if I will be asking for too much if I say that one day I will have to tell you to build a library in the school compound because right now we don’t have a specific building for a library. I am planning that in may we will make a good strategy on how the kids will be reading the books. Let’s say every Thursdays will be a reading day. On one Thursday we can have each student read for us aloud, the next Thursday all students can read together loud, the next Thursday we can have groups of five reading books together, the next Thursday each student can have his or her own book reading quietly. So we will have such a time table. We like to go reading under a certain tree that Stephanie knows very well but when it is raining we do it in class but we find it very congested so if we had a library this could be very helpful.

CARLOS:
Maybe one day we will build it together,
with a natural architecture :)

Nailaen support

PERIS:
First I will say that nailaen is very thankful for your support in her education. She owes her sponsors her life. She is improving her grades each time they do their exams. She is supposed to go back to school on Monday 3rd of May 2010 for her 2nd term. I gave her an assignment this holiday to interview at least 20 people around Enkii area. I talked to her today and she is doing very well.

CARLOS:
Our dream is seed.
We are the roots.
Nailaen is maybe the first fruit.

contacting Tatiana & Carolina

PERIS:
Well again I will be thankful for Club123s to honor me this much even to bring visitors to come and visit me here. SUCH GREAT LOVE….. We communicate a lot with Carolina. Right now we are working on the mats she needed for yoga. She wants 10 mats These mats can only be found in Mombasa so when I go back I will go back with them. I hope she will write tomorrow. I wanted them to hire a car so we can move around easily but they said the car hire is not in their budget. I told them it will not be a big problem but I am still thinking how we will visit the animals in the parks. I think we will need to hire a car even for that one day. Another day that we will desperately need the car is when they arrive. I will take them from the Nairobi airport myself because I don’t trust nairobians. There are a lot of bad people. I am not sure if they will arrive at night or during the day but either way it would have been good if we had a car for this one day also. I don’t want to squeeze them too much we will use the buses but they are not comfortable. I would like to know exactly the date and time they will arrive here so I can go to Nairobi and meet them. I would also like to know what they are planning to do from the first day to the last. I mean what is their timetable? So I can arrange with the teachers and students. I must assure you that they are in good hands and I will do my best to assist them in anything.

CARLOS:
Dear Rafiki,
Tatiana and Carolina are not fancy ladies
but warriors as you,
that have planted and fought everywhere;
besides that, it is true they don't have an endless budget;
please take them by Bus:
they will enjoy the experience, if you guide them.
There's no money for cars :)

brickets

PERIS:
Since the first day we discussed about this issue, I have been asking around, doing some research and I have found out that there are brickets making machines that are sold in Nairobi. We can put the saw dust mixed with the glue in machine and compress it then we have our saw dust brickets! Is it that easy? I still don’t know how much one machine cost. I will ask and tell you.

CARLOS:
Not that simple;
I have a great engineer friend, Andrej, that knows about
Fire Brickets, Solar Ovens and Natural Fences;
he can guide us, if you allow it.
I will put you in touch with him, if you would like.
One day you will meet him.

politics

PERIS:
HA! HA! HA! Yes I laughed when I read about this topic. I think Kenyan leaders have lost their way. Personally I cannot understand what they want. Some of them are doing the right things but many of them are doing bad things. The leaders who caused the post election violence on 2007/2008 are being taken to hague court. Many Kenyans are happy about this. We think that if they are not punished they might do this again in 2012. Mr. Koffi Annan frequently visits Kenya whenever there is a problem with president Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. I think he loves Kenya or maybe this country is so important to the world. I wonder when we will stop giving giving Mr. Koffi these troubles… right now the members of parliament are working on changing the constitution. This is proving to be difficult because some people are against it and other are supporting it. The whole country will vote for it before it is signed into law. I still don’t know if I will vote for yes or no because I still am not sure what it contains. I tell you this is a great country in so many ways but there are a few leaders who don’t care. What can we do about that?

CARLOS:
What can we do about that?
We are doing and you know as well as me.
We are planting trees and ideas of union.

weather

PERIS:
We are having lot of rains in many parts of the country. I think it is El – Niño. These rains are usually not very healthy because it makes the plants rot and it washes away all the good top soil and leaves galleys and sometimes bare roots of the trees which will eventually fall if the rains will not stop soon.

CARLOS:
If we plant enough,
the top soil won't go when the rains come;
the trees will stop it.
It is a matter of planting and time.

conclusion

PERIS:
I am surprised, no, shocked, maybe amazed by this country, or is it in the whole world? That you cannot do anything no matter how small it is without money? They always want you to put your hands in your pocket all the time!!
PAMOJA TUNAWEZA SANA!!

CARLOS:
Try to think of money as seeds.
You cannot save it.
You can only plant it well.
Pamoja tunaweza super-sana!