R2 Design
https://www.r2design.pt/
Portugal
There will be an invitation to the City Halls of the territories, Schools and Parents Associations to be partners and constructors in the start moment of the project.
In Algarve, known for its tourism, this project aims to work with 600 children in schools, showing films about Democracy, promoting debates, giving children the opportunity to speak about it. Children will interact, dialogue and make drawings about the subjects. Teachers and families would be invited to participate. The result of these sessions will be compiled in a book, edited by one of the most relevant designers in Portugal. A collective book about the colorful possibilities of democracy.
In Algarve there are 16 counties, this action will take place in the interior, no “tourist counties”
In 2019 we had government elections. Algarve had an abstention rate of 55%, one of the highest in the country. At the same time there was a rise of votes in the extreme parties, that promoted an anti-democratic speech, racist, homofobic and dissemination of populist ideas.
Algarve is a territory where economy is mostly directed to tourism activities, near the litoral area. Meanwhile in the interior, 15 km far from the sea, small villages face problems of scholar absenteeism, and as reported in a social report (2007-2015) there is a devaluation of the school. Low income families accept easily that a child, age 15, starts to work in hotels and restaurants in the litoral and leave school.
The government power is far from the people, and it’s rare to find collectives or civic associations.
The action will be mainly directed at children ages 3 to 10, and to teachers and families of these children. The subjects that will be brought (in films and debates) will be the seed to develop thoughts on specific matters that concern the community. Using the methodology Theater of Oppressed (Boal), the team will be a facilitator of empowerment and self consciousness of the community. In the interior, lives 3 communities of gypsies in poor conditions. The strong moment that this community interacts with the locals is in the school. The gipsies all around the country are ostracized.
The regional governors will be invited to participate in the debates, showing to all (children as well) that the dialogue between all the intervenients is an exercise of a real active citizen society.
It’s an action based on participation of all (non-formal educational methodology), where the role of children is central and the team is merely a facilitator, working together to build knowledge and skills, in a horizontal relationship. Our plan is: December20/January21 - preparation, meeting with partners; February21 - cinema sessions and workshops in 3 schools; March21 - second round of workshops in schools and presentation of the project to the children's families; April till June 21- creation/editing of the book and printing; creation of the documentary; June21 - public presentation to all communities, viewing of the documentary and delivery of the book to all children who participated; delivery of the book to all schools and libraries and promotion of the Vimeo Channel as a tool.
Our expectation for each participant is that the collective creation of a book and a documentary will be perceived by everyone. That the work in a group is an empowerment and we can be all part of something if we want; that during the process there will be meetings and dialogues with all, including local governators. As major expectations, we would like that the schools start to use films and and discuss them; that teachers, families and children in theses territories will be more aware of rights and duties of a citizen in a Democracy; as a concrete result, that the vimeo channel, the book and the documentary have a big range of audience, even out of the country. It would be great, for instance, if locals and gipsy communities could be more opened to interact with each other.
The aim of the project will be to give voice (I Speak), and promote dialogue, discussion and comprehension of different points of view (Colorful). To raise awareness for alterity and plurality. Create informal moments of debate, inside the schools but with different methods/approaches we intend to increase voices, generate critical reflection and promote wider openness and acceptance. The places of community reunion, as auditorium (when they exist) or parish council will be used to reunite all the participants in specific moments. Regional government, teachers and families will be summoned at some moments to speak and also to listen, to participate.
All the community will be an active participant in the creation of a book and a documentary about Democracy.
The aim of our collective is to create moments where artistic objects (mostly cinema) are enjoyed for more, and that this experience in each individual blows minds and reveals the infinity possibilities of life. The idea of creating new possibilities, specially for children, new approaches, and unveil the universe and humanity is a utopy for all our team. The Inflatable Cinema, our proudly best project, is the result of this kind of dream.
We are also very concerned about the fake news phenomena, and the importance of the audiovisual nowadays and how this display can manipulate and deform ideas and information, that’s why a more critical and informed eye is more prepared for the tricks that our society must deal with.
Total budget
Funding requested from Civic Europe
WORKING TEAM: coordination/management, curator, producer, monitors, tecnichals, cameraman = 20.730€
LOGISTICS: displacements, accommodation, alimentation, screening fees, materials workshop, vimeo channel = 11.951€
DESIGN BOOK: R2 Design = 8.610€ (with VAT)
PRINT BOOK: 1500 copies = 6.150€ (with VAT)
We would like to be questioned about the action, to have external reflection from others and if possibly from other professionals from different areas.
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