Solidarity Planet

Transformations driven by the Rio Negro Schools Project

Your family can be a force for good in the Amazon by supporting a sustainable school construction project

By Claudine Blanco and Caroline Sundfeld

Promoting good values, such as caring for the environment and fostering the development of new citizens, directly contributes to generational transformation. It’s great that there are people who have already embraced this awareness and are undertaking incredible projects to change reality. This is the case with the Rio Negro Schools Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening basic education in riverside communities. It is the result of a partnership between the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation (about which we have previously written here), Katerre Expedition, and the municipality of Novo Airão.

Rio Negro Schools Project: a transformative initiative

This project stemmed from various observations: the Amazon has a vast riverine area composed of islets where diverse families and children live scattered across an immense perimeter. A situation that doesn’t allow teachers to commute to and from school every day; often, they leave their families for weeks or months to dedicate themselves to the students. This, after a 24-hour boat journey, for example. Confronted with this reality, Ruy Tone, passionate about the region for over 15 years and already the director of the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation, an NGO in Novo Airão dedicated to education and sustainability, decided to expand the project and establish new schools.

See below the project that the Way Family visited in the Amazon (click to change the language of the subtitles):

This project adopts a holistic approach to create efficient, local, and sustainable schools for riverside communities.

Three fundamental premises guide its design:

Sustainable architecture: Schools are designed according to the typology of regional architecture, respecting the local environment and providing safety, natural lighting, and adequate ventilation.
Modular flexibility: Schools are modular and adapted to meet different needs, community sizes, and local conditions. Some islands/regions may have 10 children, while others have 30… This facilitates construction, maintenance, and the addition of new modules if necessary.
Constructive intelligence: The construction of schools follows methods similar to traditional construction, optimizing logistics and maintenance.

Riverside School Tancredo Neves: Before and After

Project Phases

The Amazon Schools Project is divided into three distinct phases.

Phase 1 focuses on the construction and renovation of schools, coordinating operational work and carrying out the necessary construction.

Phase 2 aims to empower teachers in the communities by offering courses that enhance their skills and preparation.

As for Phase 3, it involves pedagogical exchanges between educators and the team from the Almerinda Malaquias Foundation, promoting the exchange of experiences.

The goal is to have 25 active schools, bringing benefits such as more suitable school structures, internet connectivity, motivated and well-prepared teachers, a reduction in dropout rates, increased literacy in riverside communities, and enrichment of local culture.

While the initial focus is on education, the project also plays a significant role in raising awareness about the importance of preserving the Amazon Rainforest. The purpose is to create a generation that understands, loves, and cares for this precious environment crucial to the planet. It’s a beautiful initiative aiming to transform the reality of communities, educate future generations, and make the world a better place for everyone

Jacaré Açu Vessel | Photo by Caio Vilela

Traveling with Purpose

Traveling with family to the Amazon can awaken a profound socio-environmental sense. Here at Family Trip Magazine, we aim to inspire traveling families to explore the world with purpose and build a network of supportive families. We believe that travel can be a powerful tool for education and environmental awareness, as well as the power to instill a sense of responsibility for taking care of our planet.

That’s why we invest in family travel, using all our know-how and our brands to inspire a new generation.

The agencies Viajar com Crianças and Viajar com Adolescentes will have a special group to embark on a Boat Expedition through the Amazon and invite families from our community to join this idea and invest in building a school. The expedition aims to turn conventional tourism into a transformative journey and a unique opportunity to promote teachings, values, and greater purposes to teenage children.

We invite you to join us on this journey!

To contribute directly to the project, contact us on Instagram: @fundacaoalmerindamalaquias

Together, we can teach our children to love, preserve, and care for our planet, ensuring a sustainable future for all. If your project aligns with our purpose, contact us, and we will help you with projects involving our three brands, just as we are doing with the Schools of the Rio Negro Project