ASSOCIAÇÃO CIDADE ESCOLA APRENDIZ
São Paulo- Brazil
The Associação Cidade Escola Aprendiz is a São Paulo based NGO that since 1997 experiments with and disseminates the concept of community education. Its sole purpose is to create connections among various social actors (government agencies, schools, businesses, shelters, NGOs…) in order to improve simultaneously the community and the educational system. The neighborhood of Vila Madalena serves as the testing ground for all the programs carried out by Aprendiz educators.
Over the years, the organization has developed the “Neighborhood as School” concept that expands community learning spaces beyond the precincts of public and private schools. Aprendiz’s work supplements school learning with a broad array of community-based activities that nurture young people’s creativity and works to boost self-esteem. Some of the activities offered to the children include IT courses, mosaics, theater, guitar, skateboarding, english lessons among other options.
To disseminate the work being done in Aprendiz, the position of “community educator” was created whereby various actors (teachers, community leaders, activists…) are trained to help integrate schools and their surrounding communities. In 2006, over 8000 public school teachers and directors participated in community education courses offered by Aprendiz in partnership with various universities. The organization also hosts and edits the most significant open source portal on educational issues in the country. The work carried out by Aprendiz has been recognized by Unicef and Unesco as a best practice model to be disseminated worldwide.
Contact Information:
Name: Gisela Cury - Institutional Affairs Coordinator
Address: Rua Belmiro Braga 146, Vila Madalena
Phone: +55 +11 3819-9225/9226