Reflections from a friend of PRECE

For over a year now, Kacy has been working with PRECE and using their methodology of cooperative learning to teach English at the EPC’s (Popular Cooperative Schools) around the country-side of Pentecoste and most recently at the Professional School. Since I learned about PRECE and their methodology from Kacy, I have wanted to know and understand more about them and possibly arrange a partnership with them so that together we can use my knowledge and experience to PRECE’s benefit.

I want to talk about my experience visiting some of the EPCs around Pentecoste’s county. I will write about my experience with the Professional School at another time.

On the 5th and 6th of November I travelled to many communities, with Kacy, to witness and experience teaching English and also to learn how the EPCs work. But, I must say, it is not an easy trip to make. The communities are in the middle of the desert, and very remote. There, the reality quite different from what most Brasilians from the cities classify “normal”. It is so different that usually we pretend it doesn't exist or we just pretend to be blind to it. In some parts of the “Sertão” not even clean running water or basic sanitation have yet reached the people, it is where the sun punishes the animals, vegetation and people day in and day out. And the sand dust is everywhere. Because of conditions the families that live there are frequently poor and they don’t have access to good education or better opportunities.

But PRECE came to change that, because what they do is invest in people from these communities, by helping them to get into the university. And then once those students reach the university or are about to graduate they return to their homes to help the communities and help another people to walk the same path. So PRECE creates a circular process and uses the Cooperative Learning Method in all that it does.

As I was saying: It is not an easy task to do- to go between the EPCs you usually have to travel miles before you get to the next community, under a hot weather, dusty air and bad roads (we were lucky that we had a car to take us everywhere, but I saw people doing the same route on foot under the sun!). Every trip was really tough and tiring, and some of the EPCs didn’t have fans to cool off from the scalding heat. So by the end of the second day when we returned to Pentecoste we were covered in sweat and dust and we were really, REALLY exhausted.

Then I started to think that Kacy does this crazy routine every week and not once I have seen her complain. When I was still in London and we used to talk over SKYPE she sometimes would tell me that she was tired (Which is totally understandable; my legs were numb and my throat full of dust after only two days!), but I have never heard her complain about having to do this trip every week. So I started to question myself: “Is it worth?”, “Would I do the same?”. And the answer is “Yes, I would!”. The rewards that you get from spending time with the people of PRECE are priceless!

First, I have never seen people so eager to learn! As I said earlier, I saw people travelling by foot to the EPCs in extremely hot weather to learn. When in class they would follow Kacy’s instructions and then try and practice until they got it right. And above that they were very patient with her when her badly spoken Portuguese confused them.

Second, the people who live in the rural communities of Ceará are so warm and welcoming!!! Everywhere we went people would receive us with big smiles, kisses and hugs. I even got to be invited to play Soccer with a bunch of kids, and after lunch with the family of José Alfredo and Dona Marta I played memory game with the family beautiful twin kids named Fernando and Fernanda! I couldn’t have felt more at home!

Third, and most importantly, I believe education is a means to liberation and empowerment. Someone once told me that “Where education and knowledge arrives, also arrives development and prosperity”. I truly believe that and I think that this is what PRECE is trying to create. In the near future, I think those communities won’t be impoverished anymore because the people who are studying at the university and graduating with their abilities in hand will invest in their home town, bringing their jobs and expertise to be used in the community. And then doors of opportunity will open, roads will be built, businesses will appear, clinics will operate, houses will increase, etc…

And finally, I believe in the work that PRECE is doing in the interior of Ceará and I think everyone should use PRECE as an example of humility as well as faith in the power of people and a brighter future. I think if everyone did as PRECE does we would have a different Brazil.

Leonardo de Oliveira

1st Cooperative Learning Conference in Ceara

The past two days were filled with love, laughter, pride, appreciation and a great sense of solidarity and community. The Federal University of Ceara, in partnership with PRECE and the Secretary of Education in Ceara hosted the first ever Cooperative Learning conference!

The conference boasted presentations from PRECE student leaders, COFAC students at UFC, teachers at the new Professional School in Pentecoste, and a round table composed of UFC professors, SEDUC teachers and other leaders in the educational community. Each presentation was unique as each showed how the different communities are using the methodology of cooperative learning in their own special way. The PRECE students talked about the history of their EPCs, the difficulties they have overcome and some that they still face, and the projects they have developed. Their experience of informal cooperative learning outside the classroom is changing individual lives, the entire county of Pentecoste and now spreading throughout northeast Brasil. The COFAC students talked about their experiences facilitating groups of peers and their joy in developing something that is improving the entire university. They are helping to pave the way for something brand new and dynamic. And, the teachers spoke about their experiences implementing cooperative learning in the classroom. They shared their stresses as well as successes and showed how the climate of the school and the relationships between the students is flourishing. The school, a project of UFC, SEDUC and PRECE is the first to formally use cooperative learning within the classroom here in Ceara, Brasil.

The most beautiful part of the conference was watching how the participants supported and encouraged each other during their presentations. It was truly cooperative learning in action. Not only can the presenters talk about their experiences using cooperative learning, but they live the methodology in all that they do. It was my great pleasure to be surrounded by such a sense of cooperation, solidarity and love.

Thanksgiving

For those of you who know me well, you know that I have two favorite holidays:

1) Martin Luther King Jr. Day (especially in Atlanta) where everyone takes a “Day On, Not a Day Off” to serve their neighbor in need.
2) Thanksgiving where we are surrounded by friends, family and some of my favorite foods! The cool crisp weather, the changing of the leaves and the moments with loved ones always remind me that I have so much to be grateful for.
Here in Brazil the environment isn’t the same, but during this time of Thanksgiving I still have so much to be grateful for. Below, in no specific order, are my Top 10 Thanks!

PRECE
Every morning I wake up and remember that I am beyond lucky to work with and for an organization that I believe in. Every evening I go to bed knowing that PRECE is making a difference in the lives of people and bettering the reality for thousands of Brazilians and that in some small way I am a part of it. How did I get so lucky to meet such an incredible organization?


My Health
I don’t think that I have ever been so grateful that I am, in general, an extremely healthy person. Maybe this is because I have never before lived without health insurance. But, I am now going on 6 months without health insurance (dad- I promise I will get it!) and every day I am thankful that I wake up with a healthy mind and body!

My dearest Brazilian friends- Isabela and Iriana, and Carol and Maraiza
I am thankful that these phenomenal women have been more than hosts who have welcomed me in to their homes. They have welcomed me with their hearts and have found a place in my heart. I would be a very sad and lonely person without them.

The internet and Skype
The homesickness that comes with living thousands of miles away from my family and best friends is lightened when I am able to talk on Skype, Gmail Chat, etc. with people every day. Without Gmail chat my sister and I wouldn’t be able to send each other hourly updates about what we ate for lunch or how we are too lazy to work out in the afternoon. Without Skype I wouldn’t be able to hear the voice of my best friend Pegah or see her smile. Without the internet in general, I wouldn’t be able to post my “Top 10 Thanks!”. And, you all should be grateful for that! HA!

Dona Martha
She is everything that I am not, but everything that I want to be. She is love and patience and kindness and endurance and fortitude and hospitality and generosity and struggle and acceptance and selflessness. She is Brazil. She is woman. And, she might just be a saint.


Manoel Andrade and the entire Andrade family
There are times when Manoel Andrade speaks and I simply sit mesmerized by him. He oozes of faith, love and commitment. His faith in a brighter tomorrow and his conviction and perseverance in making it a reality is astonishing to me. I keep thinking that maybe if I just stay close to him, some of him will rub off on him. And, what is more amazing is that his entire family is exactly the same way. He learned this love, faith and commitment from his parents, as did his sisters, children, cousins, etc. They are incredible testaments of faith.

The PRECE Car
My friend Luciana named the car “The Warrior”. She is right. I also think that the car is my salvation- my salvation from riding on the back of a motorcycle in the rain, hot sun, over rocky/bumpy/dirt roads and from carrying all of my teaching supplies and overnight items in a backpack. Every time I start the engine I say a prayer of thanks for those individuals who provided some of the money to purchase the PRECE car many years ago and for the generosity of Manoel Andrade for permitting me to drive the car.

My roommates- Nicelly, Ednaldo and Tony
I couldn’t ask for better friends to share a home with, meals with, and frustrations with. They are seeing the best and worst of me and I am thankful that they are willing to put up with me! I honestly would not survive in the interior of Ceará if not for the 3 of them!

The Beaches of Brasil
Enough said. It just doesn’t get any better than spending a long weekend, an afternoon or just an hour jog on the beach. This is where I meet the Spirit most powerfully and I am so grateful that at any moment I am no more than an hour away from a beautiful Brasilian beach.








Leo

ENEM 2011

I have a friend who I am constantly relying on for help to complete this task or that task or some other bizarre emergency. With a smile on his face he always responds with a movie quote “it fica feliz em ajudar” which in English means “I am happy to help”. And, the fact of the matter is that he really is happy to do whatever it is I need because he truly gains joy and satisfaction from helping others. Whereas I and most other Americans I know would get frustrated, start making excuses about the other more pressing tasks we have to accomplish and roll our eyes at our seemingly helpless friends, the Brasilians have a different perspective. They, as a people, amaze me with their willingness to put aside their own desires and work for the betterment of others and the betterment of the community.

One of the most beautiful things in the world is watching as persons help others to discover their own knowledge, their own abilities and their own truth. This past weekend more than 100 PRECE university students as well as UFC students who participate in the Cooperative Learning program travelled to Pentecoste to participate in the SuperAção ENEM event which took place before the ENEM (University Entrance Exam). There were 650 students who participated in the event along with many parents and other communities. It was a time when the university students were able to tell the ENEM participants about their experiences studying at the university, answer any and all questions about the exam, and help the students to relax and enter the testing room with a sense of calm. But, most importantly the University students showed the students that they were supported by a great network of people who knew their anxieties and frustrations and were standing by their side in support and solidarity. It was a moment built on collaboration and a desire to support one another. The instinctive nature of the Brasilian people to help their neighbor never ceases to amaze me.

Below are a few quotes from participants taken from the SuperAção ENEM blog:

“I adored it! Congratulations on the success of the event. It is that makes me believe that Pentecoste can be a place of great men. Thanks to the education and to the people who believe that education is the formula to transform the world. Great harvest, friends!” Rosimere Silva

“Ah… I loved SuperAção ENEM, especially when we were in the classrooms [with the university students], that was really cool. And, even better were the people… I loved it! I want more events like this!” Jessica Gamah

Reflections from Kristin Brubaker

When my family first booked our recent trip to Brazil it was too early to really get excited about the vacation. Even in the months and weeks leading up to our departure date (as Kacy was having us run around picking up 'essentials' like a gallon of hand sanitizer and a pound of Craisins) I was too busy to feel much of anything towards our visit. I was vaguely aware that after three months of way too many 12+ hour work days I'd have a break, and I was very much so looking forward to that. But the 12+ hour work days kept me from investing much further thought into my upcoming relaxing, tropical vacation. You can imagine my reaction, then, when I got our itinerary for the trip a few days in advance: our relaxing 'vacation' included close to 20 classes we were to teach and a daily wake up time of 6am!

Although the trip was not what I originally had in mind, it was an amazing and eye opening experience. The students' desire to learn was inspiring, and the school that has been put together in partnership with PRECE has the potential to transform so many lives. In every PRECE stop my father thanked everyone for taking such good care of Kacy. What I saw, though, was more than these people simply opening their arms to Kacy, it was an amazing symbiotic relationship. The success of the environment, communities, and organizations came from working together and depending on each other. Each of the communities we entered thrived assisting each other in ways that we in America wouldn't even consider. Because Kacy has entered these communities with the goal of helping and learning, she in turn has been invited into countless incredible families, including the large amazingly interconnected and close PRECE family. Students help each other, families care for each other, and in the long run individuals grow and succeed because of each other.

What I left with was respect for everyone I met involved in PRECE and their affiliated partners, as well as confidence and amazement at what, if provided the resources they need, these individuals can accomplish. In the long run it might not have been the topical vacation I was looking forward to, but it did offer me an opportunity to open my eyes and learn from others. Plus we did get to visit a beach or two, so all in all, I’d call the vacation a success.

The Brubakers in Brasil

Though they might not believe it and I don’t always show it, my family is the single most important thing in my life. My sister, Kristin, is my heart and soul and she understands me better than anyone else in this world. And, my parents are my guiding lights, my North Star in the dark night. There is famous quote- “The best gifts parents can give children are both roots and wings.” I am firmly grounded in the roots of love, service, peace and joy that my parents provided me, but I soar on the wings of faith they gifted me.

So, it meant the world to me that they travelled to Brasil to visit not only me but also to know better why I feel called me live and work here. Over the past two weeks I was so excited to present the PRECE movement and the new High School and Professional school to them… and also present them to the PRECE students and English students at the High School and Professional school. And, though the oppressive desert heat, the long car rides along dirt roads and the cold showers were not exactly what they had in mind for a family vacation they were excited to get to know PRECE and impressed with all they witnessed.

My family, being the “troopers” that they are followed my normal (well, a slightly watered down version) teaching schedule. They visited each PRECE EPC where they taught English classes and visited with communities. They also helped teach at the new PRECE administered High School and Professional School in Pentecoste. As we left each location my dad gave a speech that went a little like this:
“First, I want to thank you for taking care of my daughter, Kacy. It is difficult for us to be so far away from her, but we know that she is safe with you. Second, I want to tell you how impressed I am with you. I was a teacher for more than 30 years in the United States and it is refreshing to meet young people who don’t take their education for granted, but fight for the opportunities to study and improve their reality. I am encouraged to see the way you are taking responsibility not only for your own future but also the future of everyone around you. Congratulations and keep up the good work.”
It was the same speech for every class, but it came from the bottom of his heart and was filled with sentiments of true astonishment and respect for the progress PRECE is making and at the way PRECE is improving the reality of impoverished communities in Ceará.

On the last night my family was here we had dinner with Prof. Manoel Andrade and Ana Maria. While all of the women were chitchatting on one end of the table I listened in on my dad’s conversation with Andrade. My dad was speaking about how impressed he was with not only the young children to give up their Saturday mornings to study at the Cooperative Learning Schools of PRECE and the youth who live at the PRECE EPCs while studying for the ENEM (university entrance exam) but more so with the university students who return to their home communities each weekend to teach others about the discipline they are studying. This is the same thing that all North Americans say when they first experience PRECE. We all recount stories of our weekends in college- Frat parties until sun rise, tailgating at football games, sleeping until 2 p.m. on Sunday mornings, putting off studying for exams until the night before. None of that included taking a 2 hour bus ride back to our hometowns to teach young children and youth. None of what we experienced on the weekends during college was about giving of ourselves to better the lives of another. None of it was altruistic. All of what PRECE does is altruistic. My father completed his comments by saying, “PRECE isn’t about the student improving his or her own reality. It is about helping to improve the reality of everyone else. It is about knowing that our work isn’t complete until everyone has succeeded. It is about community.”

It was obvious to see that the PRECE movement had deeply impressed my father.

Of course, we worked in some time for fun and friends also!

Our first hosts, Carlos, Tine and Isabela made my family feel welcomed and at home in Brasil as we spent the weekend at their ranch/beach home enjoying delicious dishes prepared by Carlos and great conversation with friends.

And, we were so thankful for the hospitality of the Alves Teixeira family, the Andrade family and Dona Marta who invited us to their homes for meals while in the interior. Thank you!
Luckily, the Wednesday that my family was here was a holiday and we went to Lagoinha with my friends Bianca and Maira, and Maira’s mother. Bianca and Maira are friends from Capoeira and are German so we love to explore Ceará together.

The Oliveira’s welcomed us to their home and treated us to dinner one night when we were in Fortaleza. It was a pleasure for my mom and dad to meet the rest of the Oliveira family as they had already met Pastor Aureo when he stayed at their home in July.
And, because the beaches in Fortaleza and Lagoinha weren’t enough, we took a trip to Jericoarcoara, a world renowned beach and National Preserve. There, with PRECE student and good friend Maraiza we enjoyed 3 days of relaxing on the beach, watching incredible sunsets, drinking fresh tropical juices and enjoying paradise!
All in all, it was an incredible visit.

"Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.”
- Albert Camus

When many North American Christians think about the word “mission” their minds immediately drift to ways that they can help another- giving money, building homes, painting and refurbishing broken down buildings. These actions are all great and much needed, but they are missing the relational part of “mission”. Others view “mission” differently. I believe that I was blessed to work in a church that viewed “mission” as a partnership in which all partners are equals and walk hand in hand developing joint goals and projects. It is not a relationship where one gives and the other receives but rather a partnership in which all individuals have a voice and a place at the table.

Yesterday the leaders and students at the High School and Professional School in Pentecoste, team at ADEL and students at PRECE EPCs welcomed two North American partners from First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta, GA. Rose Emily Bermudez , the Director of Mission at FPC, and Brant Ferrell, the Chair of the Brazil Committee, are devoted to the work that is being done in Brazil via PRECE and a variety of Presbyterian Churches in and around Fortaleza. And, they are striving to get more people involved in the partnership.

While at EEEP Pentecoste they met with Prof Manoel Andrade, Director Elton Luz and Educational Coordinators Tony Ramos Ribeiro and Ednaldo Firmiano as well as students who are preparing for high school. Three students led them around the school and with pride showed them the classes, presented teachers and fellow students and taught our visitors about the cooperative learning methodology. Students had the opportunity to ask questions of Brant and Rose Emily and to share their experiences. The thing that Brant and Rose Emily were most impressed with was the enthusiasm and motivation these students had for learning. They were taking time out of their day (when not at their “normal” school) to study and better their chances at receiving a good education. Brant and Rose Emily were overwhelmed by the dedication they saw within the students. It is the same dedication, motivation and enthusiasm that always amazes North Americans when they visit the PRECE communities and ADEL projects.

As Rose Emily and Brant continued through their day visiting PRECE EPCs and ADEL leaders this same theme of dedication and motivation to improve the reality in the impoverished communities of Ceará was evident. Every where they went we sat in a circle facing one another having an open and honest discussion. In all ways each participant had a place at the table and had a voice which was heard. The feeling of partnership and solidarity was palpable. As I listened to both North Americans and Brasilians sharing ideas and knowledge I was reminded of a quote by Albert Camus – “Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend.” This friendship and equal respect for one another is exactly what I witnessed yesterday as the people of Pentecoste welcomed two North Americans with love, acceptance and joy … and as the North Americans listened in amazement and support to the stories, questions, and ideas of the PRECE students, ADEL leaders, and EEEP Pentecoste leaders and students. I am grateful for the opportunity to watch relationships built on equal respect grow and flourish.

Taking it all in stride...

When I was at the home of Jose Alfredo and Dona Marta (in Boa Vista) yesterday a giant water truck pulled in behind me. I was confused because typically there are buckets of water lining the walls of the house, but I was quickly notified that they were down to one 2 liter bottle of clean drinking water and they needed to buy more.

This is what I learned about the reality of living in the impoverished rural areas of northeastern Brasil:
- It only rains December through June. During this period rain water is caught for drinking/washing/bathing.
- When the dry season comes and the water dries up, plan B is enacted:
- The county government provides 2 hours of bathing/washing water every other day. This water is too salty and contaminated to drink.
- Water for drinking must be purchased from a private compandy that extracts water (untreated) from a local reservoir and delivers it to homes. It is not expensive, but it is not cheap.
- And, this by no means makes life easy.

I entered in to one of the bedrooms which was filled with hundreds of 2 liter water bottles, big jugs and giant barrels waiting to be filled with water. This supply would have to last as long as possible. The only problem was that when we rain an extension cord from the house to the motor of the water truck we remembered that we had lost power about an hour ago and were still without energy. Now what?

Unfortunately, this is not unusual here. Living in the interior of northeastern Brasil I have developed a much greater appreciation for all the things I typically take for granted- water and energy simply being the most recent examples!

And... We're Off!

It’s like we are doing a triathlon right now. There are moments where we sprint; moments where we catch our breath; moments of frustration and struggle; and moments of great joy and sense of accomplishment. But, there is never a moment when we quit.

These past two weeks have been both exhilarating and exhausting at the same time. You know, that feeling, when you are running on adrenaline and feel like you have all the energy in the world but at the same time are completely worn out. And, when your head hits the pillow at night you either can’t sleep because your mind is still running a million miles a minute or your exhaustion causes you to collapse in to bed before taking a shower or changing in to pajamas! That is how the faculty and staff at the new High School and Technical School have felt the past two weeks (or, maybe it's just me! HA!).

Two weeks ago we initiated the “Open to the Community” Aerobics and Yoga classes… with instructor Kacy. Believe me; I am in no way qualified to teach either aerobics or yoga! I have been an athlete all my life and have taken hundreds of fitness classes and do yoga/pilates regularly. But, that doesn’t mean I am certified or qualified to lead others. But, that seems to make little difference to anyone here and we are having a great time learning together! The first day we had two students; the second 25; and now we have more than 40!! Everyone is at a different level but everyone is enjoying burning off a few extra calories with the support from others.

This past Monday we began meetings and entrance evaluations for the English courses and the students who are preparing to study here for High School next year. The “welcome” meetings this week have presented the school, courses, faculty and staff, PRECE, and the methodology of cooperative learning to the students. The excitement and anticipation on the faces of the students has washed all of the exhaustion away and given us more energy to continue.

This might be the testimony that our methodology of cooperative learning works- when you work closely with others they give the energy and motivation to continue pressing on toward your goal; those who struggle together also succeed together.

Motivation... without Handouts

This past weekend I had the privilege of spending quality time with one of my favorite Brasilian families. There is a long list of reasons why I love the Monteiro de Oliveira family- they are welcoming, kind-hearted, generous and loving. And, when I am with them I am reminded of my life in the United States and my family there. This is partly because when at their home I have all the comforts that I am accustomed to the United States, but mainly because I am able to enter into deep conversations with them and discussions with Carlos (the father) which make me feel like I am sitting in my own father’s study debating the politics of the day. This past weekend was a perfect example.

I was sitting by the pool reading an article on the current American political situation (the crisis with the debt ceiling) in the Brasilian magazine Veja. The article was fascinating to me (always enlightening to read the news about your country from an outside perspective!) and sparked many questions about American taxes, social services, and inequalities… and the Brasilian equivalents. So, naturally I asked Carlos to share his opinions. And, just as I anticipated, his answers, from a Brasilian perspective, mirrored the thoughts of my father, from an American perspective.

When it comes to social services such as welfare (or in Brasil, Bolsa Familia) Carlos and my father raise a reasonable question: “Why are we providing incentives for people not to work? If they can stay at home, have children and receive more money from government assistance programs than they can if they work a minimum wage job than we are doing a disservice to our countries by providing “hand outs”.” I understand their perspective, but the “bleeding-heart liberal” (as my grandfather calls me) sees the situation from a completely different point of view.

The beauty of PRECE is that it is a movement which both the “bleeding-heart liberal” and the “hard-nosed conservative” can stand behind and support. PRECE in no way gives “hand outs” or a “free ride”, but is built upon the premise that each individual must be self-motivated and work hard to improve their own future and the future of others. Hard work, dedication and persistence are key characteristics of each Precista. They know that no one else is going to change their lot in life for them- they must rise to the challenge and pave a better way so that future generations do not struggle like they did. At the same time, PRECE is built upon the support, encouragement and motivation of others who believe in lending a helping hand in order to provide those born in to poverty a way to pull themselves out of their misery. PRECE is a movement where people like my father and I can come together on common ground and support the dreams of those whose reality sometimes appears to be a nightmare.

When I returned to Pentecoste on Sunday morning I was reminded of exactly how much drive and motivation the PRECE students posses within them. In a city where opportunity is not innately behind every door, the PRECE movement is opening windows of opportunity. This past weekend hundreds of students in each PRECE EPC took an ENEM practice test to prepare for the ENEM (university entrance exam) that will be administered in October. From 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday the students could do nothing but take the test- filling in multiple choice circle after circle! If 5 and a half hours of practice test taking does not show hard work and dedication, I don’t know what else does!

These students know that education is the path to a better future and that they must work hard to secure their place in a competitive college market. At the same time, they are surrounded by a community of Precistas who believe in them and who walk the path alongside them. They do not expect a free ride but from time to time, with gratitude, they rely on the helping hand of the PRECE community.