We also propose the creation of an extended collegiate, to be composed by
the managing entities (state or municipal Government) and, if necessary, in places
where there is a regional office, by UNESCO’s representatives, besides civil society
organizations, public and private companies.The idea is that this collegiate shall
contribute to the proposal, articulation, and diffusion of initiatives related to the
project, though not having a deliberative role.
Hence, a local team is formed by people from the school itself, and with the
presence of the principal, the pedagogic coordination, teachers, community and
youths’ representatives, besides a support staff which will be in charge of programming
the weekend activities and workshops, with the aid of the program coordination.
There is always the need to establish an initial contact with the school and the
community, in order to get better acquainted with the community, its leaders, its
leisure, sports, and cultural alternatives, and its artistic expressions.
The importance of the participation of youths themselves, principals, teachers,
and the community in planning the activities that will be offered on weekends should
be emphasized.There should not be a set schedule, but rather a broad set of
possibilities to be discussed with each school, each space, and each community, as
to what is desirable and appropriate for that place.
What is opening up school spaces all about? Besides cultural resources,
whether from society or from the nearby community, and the demand expressed by
youths’ as to the activities, current themes considered relevant for youths’ welfare
should also be taken into account, combining ethics and esthetics, pleasure, reflection,
and creativity. Among the themes to be approached in youths’ language are their
own artistic-cultural creations – through music and dance (rap and hip hop, for
instance), drama, literary workshops, games, and sports activities (like capoeira and
soccer, with rules that stimulate cooperation and team work) – debates without
imposed didactism, involving youths themselves and approaching issues such as: sexuality,
drugs, intolerance, violence, in society and in the family; AIDS, precocious pregnancy,
public ethics, citizenship, associative life, and youth participation in politics.
It is essential that while building a culture of peace, the sports, arts, culture,
and leisure activities are in consonance with such principles.
Sports, for example, according to several authors and experts, has a broad
social meaning and are a way of socializing that promotes, through collective activities,
the development of a community consciousness. Moreover, it is a pleasant activity,
which plays an important social cohesion function, yielding the feeling of belonging
to a group, something that has always been said to be important to youths
17
.
Whatever the artistic, cultural, or sports language chosen by youths, it is
essential that these activities be rewarding and transforming, so that a successful
reference standard can be created, and the condition of knowledge producer in the
arts, culture, sports, and extra-curricular life be stimulated in each one – youths and
school team.The connection with the neighborhood and school reality is established
by means of workshop research themes.The involvement of youths in other works
in the region, in NGOs, with collaborating artists, cultural and community associations,
45
17. Tubino, Manoel José Gomes "Dimensões Sociais do Esporte" São Paulo: Ed. Cortez, 1992.