{"id":81822,"date":"2025-09-30T11:08:27","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T14:08:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81822"},"modified":"2025-10-03T15:25:14","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T18:25:14","slug":"city-of-god-schools-embrace-favela-climate-memory-exhibition-to-advance-local-climate-education","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81822","title":{"rendered":"Public Schools in City of God Favela Engage Youth in Climate Education Through \u2018Favela Climate Memory\u2019 Exhibition"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Young<\/a>
Students from City of God participate in the opening of the \u2018Favela Climate Memory\u2019 exhibition. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Following an enthusiastic reception during its tour through Mar\u00e9<\/a>, Acari<\/a>\u00a0and Rio das Pedras<\/a>\u2014favelas where it held a busy schedule of activities\u2014the Favela Climate Memory exhibition<\/a> has arrived in City of God<\/a>, in Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone<\/a>. Organized by the Sustainable Favela Network (SFN<\/a>)*, the exhibition has been open to the public since September 17 at Dorcelina Gomes da Costa<\/a> and three other municipal schools in the community. The Alfazendo Group<\/a>, a founding member of the SFN from City of God, was responsible for the local tour, deeply engaging almost all students and faculty at the four host schools. Moving forward, the Favela Climate Memory exhibition materials are being integrated into the teaching materials of Eco Rede, the socio-environmental education project run by Alfazendo in numerous local schools.<\/p>\n

On opening day at the Dorcelina Gomes da Costa Municipal School, young educators from the Eco Rede project used the exhibition’s banners, timeline and Basin of Memories to engage students in discussion about the history of City of God. Gabrielle da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o da Silva, pedagogical coordinator of Eco Rede, explained the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe [Eco Rede] project has been running in the community for 14 years. Every year we come up with a different idea: memory games, puzzles, giant board games\u2026 This year, our proposal is a little different: an exhibition.\u201d \u2014 Gabrielle da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o da Silva<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"In<\/a>
In a pedagogical activity led by educators from Eco Rede, students interact with a map of City of God. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

During the socio-environmental educational<\/a> activity led by Eco Rede, three young educators divided students into three groups to explain the historical context of City of God\u2019s creation in 1966 and share the climate challenges the community has experienced since its founding. Evelyn Cristina Neves spoke about the favela\u2019s origin.<\/p>\n

\u201cCity of God used to be a farm. In 1966, before the construction [of housing] was completed [initially to accommodate workers], residents who were forcibly evicted from favelas [victims of floods in central parts of the city] came to live here. [It’s important] that we talk about this, about the floods and those who were displaced and brought to City of God, which was not built for us residents. It was created for [nearby] workers… but then [came the issue of] people displaced by floods and forced evictions<\/a>, [and those impacted by the climate events] came to live here.\u201d \u2014 Evelyn Cristina Neves<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

During the morning activities on September 17, Portuguese language teacher Luciano Vicente accompanied his class to the opening of the exhibition. He reflected on how people were settled in City of God.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe way people were placed [in City of God] was flawed, because they came from forced evictions, and they [the authorities responsible] did this in a haphazard way. Another point [a student] raised was that [back then] there was only mud and weeds [here]. In other words, people were just put here, most of them far from their jobs. And [the authorities] didn\u2019t provide\u2026 [the] other forms of assistance that should have been available, such as schools, health clinics and transportation\u2026 which led to population growth in City of God, without support.\u201d \u2014 Luciano Vicente<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Evelyn,<\/a>
Evelyn, Kayky, Gabrielle and Rian, socio-environmental educators from the Eco Rede project, reflect with students on the climate memories of City of God. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Middle and high school students from six different courses participated in the opening, each with approximately 30 students, aged 12 to 16. Kayky Cristiano Soares Silva, a first-year high school student, shared what he learned.<\/p>\n

\u201cI really like to learn new things\u2026 I got to learn more about the whole timeline, from the founding of City of God til today. It was really cool. We studied and asked questions that people their age\u2026 were able to answer\u2026 about climate change<\/a> in the favela.\u201d \u2014 Kayky Cristiano Soares Silva<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Throughout the activity, students discussed other topics related to local climate memories, reflecting collectively on what Rio Grande, City of God\u2019s main river, used to be like and what it is like now; whether they usually see many or few trees on their way to school; the impacts of climate change on the favela<\/a>; whether City of God in the past was the same as it is today; what they would do if their house flooded; and whether they know someone whose house has been flooded. The aim of the conversation was to encourage students to participate with their own experiences and stories they hear from their elders.<\/p>\n

\"Guiding<\/a>
Guiding questions from the socio-environmental education activity during the \u2018Favela Climate Memory\u2019 exhibition in City of God. Photo: B\u00e1rbara Dias<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Iara Oliveira, founder and coordinator of Alfazendo, took the opportunity to discuss the 1996 flood, a poignant event for the community.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a big flood in City of God, in which 62 people died. Some weren’t found because the water took them away\u2026 So this is why it’s important for us to remember. Today I am 58 years old, I’m the same age as City of God, [and] I have experienced two floods. The aim is not for you to relive a flood, but for you to understand that City of God is cut by three rivers, [and to grasp] the importance of caring for the rivers, and of paying attention to the issue of flooding. This side might not flood, but in Rocinha 2\u2014the area all the way at the back [of the community]\u2014people panic when it rains. Climate change brings a very strong sense of panic for people<\/a>. Because when you’re not home, when you’re out working, you might come back to find your house flooded. That’s why it’s important to relive [it] and remember that environmental racism<\/a> is precisely linked to this.\u201d \u2014 Iara Oliveira<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

School principal Ver\u00f4nica Cintra frequently collaborates with Eco Rede. She shared her experience of hosting the exhibition at the school.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is really great, really important, to have the return of this exhibition here at the school, and here in City of God, and to know that City of God is a key protagonist of these socio-environmental actions. Particularly to show how unequally climate change issues affect low-income areas, which is what we call environmental racism. For our school, which follows an anti-racist<\/a> curriculum<\/a>, this is a crucial reflection to bring into [the school community].\u201d \u2014 Ver\u00f4nica Cintra<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View the Photo Album<\/a> of the Opening of the \u2018Favela Climate Memory\u2019 Exhibition in City of God:<\/h3>\n

\"Exposi\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a>