Discovering Paulo Freire: CommDev goes to Brazil

The graduate students of the Communication and Development Studies program visited Brazil for ten days in May 2024 to learn about Paulo Freire’s life’s work and projects that adopt critical pedagogy framework. The purpose of the trip was for students to enhance their understanding of Freire's emphasis on dialogue and social justice by visiting development organizations and engaging with initiatives inspired by Freire. The highlight of this visit was an in-depth conversation with Nita Freire, the wife of Paulo Freire who is 91 years old, and to create a documentary on Nita Freire. This trip also served as a pilot trip to forge new relationships with academic and research partners in Brazil, especially with Federal University of Ceará in Fortaleza.

The group visited Sao Paulo, Fortaleza, Juazeiro do Norte and Nova Olinda. In Fortaleza, we visited the Four Sticks Project that follows the model of Integrated Community Therapy (ICT), created by Dr. Adalberto Barreto, that addresses mental health needs in impoverished areas, allowing individuals to engage in group dialogues and support each other. The ICT methodology is inspired by Paulo Freire’s pedagogy of hope and is practiced globally. We learned that one of the principles behind Community Therapy is the creation of spaces in which people can express their emotions and feelings without risk of being judged. We spent the whole day experiencing this space by engaging in various activities, including mindfulness exercises, therapeutic dialogues, and community bonding sessions.

The next stop was at the Casa Grande Foundation in Juazeiro de Norte, a non-profit organization focused on social and cultural education for children, youth, and their families which hosts various programs that are primarily managed by the students. The group met the founder, Alemberg Quindins, who focuses on preserving local history and nurturing children’s leadership abilities to share community stories through various media. Children participate in running a radio station, theatre, environmental protection, and music production, with hands-on activities and training in diverse fields. The visit highlighted the empowerment of children, community participation, and the preservation of cultural heritage, showcasing a model that could benefit rural communities globally.

The team met with the faculty at the University of Ceará in Fortaleza to discuss potential partnerships and collaborations between the two universities. The meeting provided a platform to explore various areas of mutual interest for potential cooperation. Organizers are already in conversation about partnership between the two institutions, presenting opportunities that will benefit the program and Ohio University.

This trip has resulted in building relationships with crucial organizations and individuals working in education reform and innovation in Brazil. Organizers are in conversation with faculty from the University of Fortaleza for joint projects and institutional tie-ups. While the students have come back with an appreciation for how social change works by experiencing it first-hand at the ground level, they are also creating a documentary to showcase Paulo Freire’s work in education through interviews with key people such as Nita Freire and other reformists working in the educational area in Brazil. 

The trip's organizers are grateful to several units and people who made this trip possible – Dean and Associate Dean of Scripps College of Communication, Center for International Studies, School of Media Arts and Studies, Office of Global Affairs, Communication and Development Studies alumni, José Paulo, Arvind Singhal, Emma Phillips and the wonderful people in Brazil who made this trip so memorable.