Educadores ambientais sem fronteiras: identidade e pertencimento na biorregião transfronteiriça do Rio Apa

Abstract

In the borderline bioregion of the APA watershed live two different peoples. Geographically separating Brazilians and Paraguayans, there is the main river of such, the Apa. A collective of educators, the Grupo de Educadores Ambientais Sem Fronteiras (GEASF), explore this territory searching for new views of the connected environmental and social questions, aiming to work with contextualized activities within the basin reality and to contribute to the sustainable share of its water resources. The Apa River, for this organization does not represent a geographical division or even a border, but a symbol of union to the success of a sustainable society. This work aims to expose actions of GEASF through the bioregion, showing the identity and relation of this collective with the place. The subjects of the research are the social educators from Brazil and Paraguay who participated of the pedagogical proposal Rio Apa: unindo dois povos, created by GEASF in 2010 and used in Brazilian and Paraguayan schools. The study was realized in the twin cities of Bela Vista/BR and Bella Vista/PY guided by the following matters: 1) The borderline bioregion; 2) Identity and sense of place of GEASF and the involvement with their main study subject: water; 3) the creator s action, whilst a member of the group as well, for reorganizing GEASF through a plan discussed with them. It is a qualitative research, a research-action, with the use of the following methodological instruments: documental analysis, questionnaire, observation, logbook and direct participation. To analyze the data, this work bases itself on the hermeneutic cycles of the phenomenology: comprehension, interpretation and new comprehension. The proposed intervention helps to identify new protagonists and redefine plans and goals for the group. One of the most relevant results, is noticeability with which GEASF directed itself to the formal education system through its first years, then how the actions succeeded at the point of overpassing the schools and reaching non formal spaces. With the creation of GEASF, it was possible to generate processes of collective discussions, some planning and mutual growth, triggering the necessity of organization and continuity via an environmental education contextualized, reflected in an annual action plan. GEASF today has become a collective of educators recognized in the bioregion where there actions happen, giving the opportunity of conquering new spaces and creating true circles of culture, of which Brazilians and Paraguayans can make use of opportunities to dialog and take actions about environmental issues.