The author of the children’s book “Tin Can Friend, River Friend”, Thiago Cascabulho, and the Sala Preta Theater Collective will present themselves to students and communities as part of the project
Since February, more than 3,700 students from the towns of Governador Valadares, Mariana, Barra Longa, Santa Cruz do Escalvado, Ipatinga and Rio Doce in Minas Gerais, and Colatina in Espirito Santo have participated in the actions of the Douradinho Project. Now, the project’s 2017 program is coming to an end with presentations – in participating schools – by the author of the children’s book “Tin Can Friend, River Friend”, Thiago Cascabulho, and the theater show The Catfish Douradinho, by the Sala Preta Theater Collective, in public spaces and open to the whole community.
The Douradinho Project is a cultural program to encourage reading and environmental education that aims to preserve and recover rivers and riparian forests | Photo: Released
The Douradinho Project is a cultural program to encourage reading and environmental education that aims to preserve and recover rivers and riparian forests. Its ambassador is the catfish Douradinho, a character in the children’s book “Tin Can Friend, River Friend” by Thiago Cascabulho. In the Doce River region, the program is carried out by the Institute pelo Bem do Planeta, a nongovernmental organization of Governador Valadares, in partnership with the Renova Foundation and sponsored by Brazil Foundation and Socioenvironmental Investment Exchange (BVSA).
In 2017, the Institute pelo Bem do Planeta and the Renova Foundation joint to help the Douradinho Project grow in the Doce River region. With the participation of the secretariats and superintendents of education of the 7 municipalities, this union provided the distribution of the book “Tin Can Friend, River Friend” for the participating schools and the training of educators. The objective is to sensitize and empower the school community to become a mobilizer of environmental actions at home and in the community. “The protagonists of this project are the educators, whom we call the guardians. They teach the students the importance of taking care of rivers and the environment. These children go home and pass on this knowledge to their communities,” says Kivia Cruz, an analyst of environmental education at the Renova Foundation.
The project focuses on the appreciation of water. Through reading and discussing the book, and the Play the Call Game, which encourages children to become mobilizers of environmental actions.
“In 2016 the Doce Douradinho Project was only held in Governador Valadares, with great success. We have grown a lot in 2017. Soon I will see from up close the wonderful work that the schools of Minas and Espirito Santo have produced throughout the year,” says the author Thiago Cascabulho.
The Douradinho Project runs until November 5th. Any school in Brazil can participate by downloading the free book and audio book “Tin Can Friend, River Friend” from the website and doing the activities of the first two stages of the program.
“The Douradinho Project’s history goes back 16 years. Our mission is to continue traveling throughout Brazil with good literature, encouraging students and teachers to think, feel and act in defense of the rivers,” says Ricardo Abrahão, President of the Institute Pelo Bem do Planeta.
PROGRAM
October 19 – THURSDAY
Author visits Mariana
October 20 – FRIDAY
Author visits Barra Longa
October 23 – MONDAY
Author visits Rio Doce and Santa Cruz do Escalvado.
October 24 – TUESDAY
Author visits Governador Valadares
October 25 – WEDNESDAY
Author visits Governador Valadares
October 26 – THURSDAY
Author visits Governador Valadares
October 27 – FRIDAY
Author visits Colatina
October 30 – MONDAY
Author visits Ipatinga Theater in Colatina
October 31 – TUESDAY
Author visits Ipatinga Theater in Governador Valadares
November 1 – WEDNESDAY
Author visits Ipatinga Theater in Rio Doce
November 3 – FRIDAY
Theater in Santa Cruz do Escalvado
November 4 – SATURDAY
Theater in Mariana and Barra Longa