Several reasons make Vaga Lume the Best Education NGO in Brazil (Instituto Doar) and winner of the Jabuti Prize in the Promoting Reading category in 2022: we implemented three new community libraries, sent a new collection of books, developed tools that support our management, promoted trainings, strengthened our work with volunteers and much more!
We are delighted to share with you our 2022 Activity Report with the seeds we planted and the fruits we reap with the support of more than 800 volunteers, our team, our partners and donors like you.
New libraries and new headquarters
We implemented 3 new libraries in the state of Pará. The new seeds were planted in the São José Amparo and Vila Castanhal communities, in Portel, and in the Jarauacá community, in Oriximiná. In this expansion of the new libraries process we adopted the application of a tool that will make it possible to evaluate the impact of the community library in the future. Still talking about libraries in Pará, we also inaugurated a new library headquarter in the São Sebastião community, in Portel.
Meetings
Throughout the year we held two major events bringing together volunteers from all the states of the Legal Amazon to train them in our strategy and to discuss important topics, such as the Journey of Libraries, the Protection Guide, accessibility and, of course, reading aloud mediation.
Fortification
In order to strengthen our roots, we deepened the methodology of The Library Journey, a program created to support the development of reading spaces from its implementation phase to the stage of autonomy, and we launched the POMAR Platform, a system that aggregates information from all the libraries and communities in which Vaga Lume operates. These two tools support us in decision-making for the assertive management of our resources.
Featured in the media
We gained prominence in TV, radio, newspapers and news portals. To cite two examples, Folha de S. Paulo highlighted the Boa Vista library, in Castanhal (PA) and UOL's ECOA Portal did an exclusive interview with Sylvia Guimarães, our co-founder and president.
To get done, check out our main highlights:
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In April 2023, Vaga Lume, with your support, held a training in production of Handmade Books, in order to strengthen the pillar of local culture in the communities. The workshop's methodology is based on listening to the elders' stories of traditional communities in the Amazon, thus promoting the preservation of traditional practices and identities.
Three communities were involved with 22 participants and 5 volunteers from the local team of Soure, in Pará.
The first day of the course was spent integrating and reviewing the principles of the reading mediation course. In the evening there was a storytelling session with the storytellers: Dona Izabel, Seu Catita, Seu Teófilo, and Seu Vazinho.
The second day of the course started with a dynamic in which the participants could build mandalas with elements of nature, representing their individual construction and the relationships with the group. The afternoon was spent constructing the first version of the written story.
At night, the Cultural Night was a party to revive traditions with the presentation of the "boizinho" (little bull) led by the teenager Alexandre and the "Folia de Reis" (traditional folk dance) group with the leaders of the Pesqueiro community. The special thing about the Cultural Night, besides the presentations, was to involve the younger children, their parents and the community to watch the presentations!
The third day of training was dedicated to finishing the text, beginning the assembly of the book, and beginning the illustrations, as well as beginning the finalization of the book.
The last day of the course was the conclusion of the book manufacturing, as well as the collective evaluation of the training, the closing party, and the reading of the books to the storytellers.
Participants' testimonials
"I believe that it is fundamental, the importance of children learning our culture and the elders teaching so that it doesn't die. It is our legacy."
"It was cool and innovative, I heard stories from my own community that I didn't know."
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Vaga Lume was one of the winning organizations in the first edition of the United Earth Amazônia Award, a prize created by Marcus Nobel that follows the same selection and evaluation criteria as the Nobel Prize.
We won in the ESG category, that represents the concern of organizations to act with respect to environmental, social and corporate governance issues.
Lorena Nery, who works as a volunteer in the state of Amazonas, participated in the ceremony, representing all Vaga Lume’s volunteers and donors.
"It is a great joy to know that Vaga Lume won this award. We are aware of the individual and collective efforts to build a quality education through literacy. And knowing that recognition has come, is of extreme happiness", (Lorena Nery).
It is very important to us at Vaga Lume to share this news with you, since our achievements are only possible because of your engagement and care.
Thank you for your contribution in promoting access to reading and education in communities in the Amazon.
About United Earth
United Earth is an international organization that recognizes and promotes environmental leadership and humanitarian excellence around the world. It is chaired by Marcus Nobel, a descendant of Alfred Nobel, and focuses global efforts, resources and programs on an unprecedented challenge: uniting the peoples and nations of the Earth in building a collective and sustainable future.
Learn more about the United Earth Amazônia Award by clicking here
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Throughout 2022 we had the opportunity to accomplish many challenges, we celebrated our 20th anniversary, reopened new libraries, held meetings with volunteers, systematized the Journey of Libraries, developed the POMAR platform, and won the award for Best Education NGO in Brazil.
Before we say goodbye to 2022, we want to share with you some of these achievements (see photos below) that were only possible because of the commitment of volunteers, technical staff, partners and donors, like you.
Thank you very much for your support. Together we build brighter futures for children and young people in the Amazon.
DONATE NOW and help Vaga Lume to keep up with the good work in 2023!
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It's Amazon day today and maybe you don't know the importance that the region to your life, even if you don't live here.
The Brazilian Legal Amazon has the greatest biodiversity in the world and is the largest freshwater reserve of the planet.
The Amazon rainforest has lost more than 10,000 km²* of native forest in 2021, which is more or less equivalent to the size of Jamaica, or Lebanon. This is the highest volume of deforestation in the last decade.
Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest represents the loss of biodiversity and threatens the survival of traditional people and communities.
Also, on a large scale, deforestation alters the rainfall regime and contributes to global warming affecting your life, no matter where you are.
Vaga Lume is present in 86 communities in all states of the Legal Amazon with community libraries that provide access to reading. 39% of these communities are in environmental preservation areas.
One of the pillars of our work is to preserve the local culture of these communities, valuing Amazonian identities as a way of strengthening the region and preserving its natural resources.
Engage to support Amazon rainforest and its people, the true guardians of the forest.
Today, donate to our project and share this to a friend.
Thank you,
Vaga Lume team
@vagalumeamazonia
(source*https://imazon.org.br/en/imprensa/deforestation-in-the-brazilian-amazon-grows-29-in-2021-and-is-the-highest-in-the-last-14-years/)
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