The current development model on the southern coast of Bahia has caused severe socio-economic and environmental consequences due to the expansion of cocoa farming, predatory tourism, the real estate market, and the lack of public policies for the production, storage, and commercialization of family farming. This has led to social exclusion, reduced well-being, and a loss of belonging, resulting from rural exodus and increasing socio-economic inequalities. On the southern coast of Bahia, there is also a situation of inadequate nutrition, lack of basic sanitation, land concentration, and unemployment.
The project described is a development initiative led by Portal Mãe Mirra in partnership with the UESC (Santa Cruz State University) Astronomical Observatory, which uses astronomy to strengthen the sense of Common Unity and interconnectedness among all elements of the planet. It explores the natural cycles of the body, Earth, and the Solar System to connect the macrocosm and the microcosm, promoting scientific education and improving the well-being of the local community.
The program contributes to improving the well-being of the local community by inspiring sustainable agricultural production, valuing indigenous culture and ancestral knowledge, recognizing the abundance provided by Nature, and fostering ecological interdependence. It incorporates legends and cosmological visions that portray the planet as a living and sacred entity, unique and special in the vast Universe, which strengthens environmental awareness and the need for sustainable practices. Additionally, it emphasizes care for the body through healthy eating and habits.
It is structured to offer 30 workshops, each lasting between 2 and 4 hours, for 30 primary school students and their families at Domingos Correia Rural Public School, in the municipality of Uruçuca, Bahia. These activities are part of the 5th-grade curriculum, but also extend beyond the curriculum, being open to other early childhood and primary school classes, parents, caregivers, and the local community, stimulating community responsibility for production methods and education.
The activities belong to 5 main areas: caring for the body, caring for the Earth through sustainable agriculture, caring for the planet Earth, investigating who we are within the Universe, and exploring our ancestry. These activities aim to promote a deep understanding of who we are and our relationships with the natural environment and its cycles, encouraging participants to value and protect the environment and Life on the planet while exploring their place within the universe. This is done through a holistic approach that integrates environmental education, practical implementations of sustainable food production systems, food security and nutritional education, harvesting food from home gardens and wild sources, and preparing nutritious and delicious meals. It also includes education for self-knowledge and the development of latent skills, concentration practices through natural breathing, sky observation, patterns, and asterisms, understanding the movements of the Sun and Moon and their influence on crops, a star gathering event, investigation of technologies created by parents and caregivers, ancestral values and knowledge, including local cosmologies, using astronomy as a guide for exploration and wonder. The goal is to cultivate a shared responsibility for the well-being of the planet and strengthen community ties through interdisciplinary practices.
This project is aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly: Zero Hunger and Food Security, Quality Education, and Good Health and Well-being.
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