Confluências Fund for Education: A Brazilian path to social change
The newly founded «Fundo Confluências para educação» supports people in their training to become teachers at the Brazilian Faculdade, Rudolf Steiner. Eight future teachers are already enjoying the financial support of a scholarship.
The Confluências Fonds association is convinced that comprehensive teacher training can lay the foundations for the transformation of the Brazilian education system. «Investing in the training of teachers is also a direct investment in the future of a country in which teachers will contribute to social change,» writes association president, Melanie Mangels Guerra. By enabling each individual to develop a personal and individual perspective, the vision of an inclusive, innovative and emancipatory Brazilian education system can be brought to life in every classroom.
The Confluências Fund for Education was born out of the very conviction that professional teacher training can bring about social change, along with a desire to do something in return for the fruits that many people from lower income groups cultivate through their efforts.
The legally independent association will collaborate with the state-recognised Brazilian faculty «Faculdade Rudolf Steiner» in this work. The Faculdade Rudolf Steiner, a teacher training programme inspired by Waldorf education, trains students through a curriculum that understands and cultivates art, social life and spirituality as resources for raising awareness and the perception of phenomena.
From a small river to a large stream
As a symbolic «foundation stone», a wall of the Faculdade Rudolf Steiner was painted with a river at the opening ceremony of the Confluências Fund. The river leads to a quote from the Brazilian philosopher Antônio Bispo dos Santos (Nego Bispo for short) – the inspiration for the name «Confluências» (in English: confluences).
«A river does not cease to be a river just because it flows into another river. On the contrary, it becomes itself and other rivers, it becomes stronger and continues in its essence. That is the greatness of confluences.»
Supporting students in their education who would otherwise not have access («an access to the river») to a good quality training course due to lack of financial resources – this also enables their «river» to flow into the broader «stream». And better-trained teachers from all backgrounds not only enable pupils to have more interesting and lively lessons. Pupils are also better prepared for the challenges of the present.
The organisation has already awarded eight scholarships in its first year. The money is used to support tuition fees and accommodation costs. Those who have received a scholarship from the Confluências Fund are committed people who are dedicated not only to their education, but also to their role as teachers of children and young people.
The main objective of Confluências is not only to be active throughout the Brazilian education system. Confluências also wants to become an association that widens social access to the Faculdade Rudolf Steiner and supports students from different social classes, ethnicities and gender orientations to become what they dream of: educators by vocation, a vocation that goes beyond the transmission of knowledge – people who will try to contribute to the full development of the potential of each pupil and student.
Melanie Mangels Guerra
Translation into English: Trevor Mepham
You can find out more about the Confluências Fund at www.fundoconfluencias.com.br