The little square
The reconstruction of the square, a dream of the residents for children to play and have fun, came out of the collective imagination and became a reality with the puxirum (collective effort) between the young people of the reFloresta Movement and the community. A space for laughter, exchange, and coexistence. Understand the project process below.
History
The Anã community has always been a place with a significant number of young people, who sought out spaces for creativity, meetings and games, whether in the forest or the river (acha, pei-pei, mata no meio, sete pecados, taco, pira, futebol and pennant). With this in mind, in 2007 the first high school class in the community decided to build a community square with the idea of having a suitable place for the children of Anã to play and, in addition, to practice other activities such as theater, art workshops and different gatherings.
After construction, the place was very popular and became a reference point for the community, people would go for walks, children would play and the space gained a lot of meaning not only for its usefulness, but also for the way it was made, being an idea from young people for young people and having as its hallmark the use of simple materials to build the toys, since seesaws, swings and slides were made mainly of wood and tires.
“I was at the construction site of the first community square, which was a project by Professor Shayla and Professor Leon. I remember that the community embraced the idea, and I saw the people of Anaense as an admirable collective, like never before. We would wake up early to go and collect wood and bring it to the site where it was going to be built. I was happy to see my children playing there. Even the older ones would form teams and play tournaments there - it was a lot of fun, and everyone would go to watch. It is sad to see that the square was neglected. My grandson no longer had the opportunity to play there, like his mother did. And the community dispersed, and there is no longer a place where everyone could meet to talk. I believe that that space strengthened the unity of the community.”
Antônio Cardoso, 53 years old, community of Anã.
However, unfortunately the materials used wore out over time, and there was no maintenance for the toys or the space, which caused the place to gradually disappear until it reached the reality it has today, with only the remains and marks left, but which still receive new children every day playing in the emptiness of the old square, with many memories, but without toys, workshops or activities to be carried out.
“I even played in the square, which was already quite destroyed, but there were still some things we could play with. When my friends and I got out of school, we would go straight to the square to play soccer and volleyball. We would play until nightfall, and then we would go down to the river to play with the fire. I liked going there, it was right in front of my house, and it was an option for me not to just stay indoors. Even with the situation I was in, I still experienced moments that have left a lasting mark on my life to this day.”
Kezia Amorim, 25 years old, Anã community.
“I had little access to the entire square, but I still liked going there to play. I remember that many of the toys had already fallen, and the ones that were still there put many of us at risk. I even had a few accidents. But for me it was important because I met my friends, spent time playing, and didn’t complain about anything, because just being there on those leftover toys made me happy.”
Milena Godinho, 19 years old.
Meaning
The first square in Anã was a very important moment for the students and community members who helped build it. At the inauguration, the teachers who organized the project gave certificates to the participants. Many of those who received the certificate had never received one in their entire lives, and this recognition validated the collective work of the community members. Many parents who worked on the construction spoke of the feeling that the effort donated to building the square was for the sake of a safe place for their children to play, connect and grow with a sense of belonging to Anã, since it is during childhood, through play, that young people develop most as human beings and learn several important values for the community itself.
The Progress
The space for the square still exists, located in an area with a wonderful landscape right in front of the community, next to the church and on the banks of the Arapiuns River. The idea of rebuilding it has always existed, but it did not have the momentum to flow and be seen as a priority, which made it difficult to continue the survey. After the third day of the reFloresta Movement and the Workshop of the Future, a project for a new square in the same place as the previous one was imagined together with the community members, and many of those who helped build the first one are supporting this idea.
The project is currently in its early stages, with the return of the third group of the reFloresta Movement. The young people are meeting frequently to make this idea gain more strength and life. Now the focus is on creating drawings, plans, raising funds and budgets, and raising funds for the project to finally revitalize the Anã square.
The Progress
O sonho tomando forma
The space for the square still exists, located in an area with a wonderful landscape right in front of the community, next to the church and on the banks of the Arapiuns River. The idea of rebuilding it has always existed, but it did not have the momentum to flow and be seen as a priority, which made it difficult to continue the survey. After the third day of the reFloresta Movement and the Workshop of the Future, a project for a new square in the same place as the previous one was imagined together with the community members, and many of those who helped build the first one are supporting this idea.
The project is currently in its early stages, with the return of the third group of the reFloresta Movement. The young people are meeting frequently to make this idea gain more strength and life. Now the focus is on creating drawings, plans, raising funds and budgets, and raising funds for the project to finally revitalize the Anã square.
The Progress
The space for the square still exists, located in an area with a wonderful landscape right in front of the community, next to the church and on the banks of the Arapiuns River. The idea of rebuilding it has always existed, but it did not have the momentum to flow and be seen as a priority, which made it difficult to continue the survey. After the third day of the reFloresta Movement and the Workshop of the Future, a project for a new square in the same place as the previous one was imagined together with the community members, and many of those who helped build the first one are supporting this idea.
The project is currently in its early stages, with the return of the third group of the reFloresta Movement. The young people are meeting frequently to make this idea gain more strength and life. Now the focus is on creating drawings, plans, raising funds and budgets, and raising funds for the project to finally revitalize the Anã square.