Possibilities and contradictions of university-community engagement in partnership with social projects

a case study of the project “Our Space: environmental education in Rubião Júnior”

Abstract

This experience report shares the scope and limitations of a partrnership between a public university and a social project, with the joint development of a university-community engagement action. The actions developed by the project “Nosso Espaço: Educação Ambiental em Rubião Júnior” aimed at developing educational activities on environmental education, education on ethnic-racial relations and Sciences teaching with participants of a social project, entitled “Preservando o Futuro”, in Botucatu, SP. The proposal of the themes was participatory, having as its focus the relationship between human beings and the environment, from a critical, interdisciplinary and anti-racist perspective, based on demands pointed out by the social project. The actions were led by black undergraduate students, who participated in all stages of the project. The ongoing weekly meetings addressed ten themes, in dialogue with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG): coexistence agreements; social mapping and cartography; food planting; composting; visit to a cooperative of recyclable material collectors; ecological building; wild animals and conservation; seeds and fruits; visit to a Botanical Garden; and artistic activities. These actions encouraged reflection on sustainability and social integration, highlighting challenges such as the heterogeneous participation of participants, and their potential, such as active interest in conservation practices and care for the environment. We understand that the project allowed an interactive and interdisciplinary approach, using methodologies that connected biological concepts to experiential practices. We emphasize the essentiality of continuous educational actions within the scope of university-community engagement practices, as well as openness to dialogue and collaboration between the people and institutions involved. On the other hand, we highlight the difficulties faced due to contradictions between political, social, cultural concepts and the use of space, which created barriers to carrying out critical and transformative actions in the territory.