Education Center expands access to literacy in Brazil
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In the Federal District of Brazil, the Centro de Cultura e Educação Popular (Cepafre) provides literacy programs to adults and seniors who missed out on formal education.
Many students, like 78-year-old Jacira dos Santos, lacked opportunities to learn to read and write due to family responsibilities or poverty, but are now pursuing education and regaining independence. Cepafre teachers tailor lessons to students’ life experiences, recognizing how past hardships impacted their access to schooling.
The center, founded in 1989, goes beyond traditional classrooms by bringing education directly to communities in areas like Ceilândia and Sol Nascente. It also offers teacher training and programs in digital inclusion, cultural activities, and popular health initiatives. Pedro Lacerda, president of Cepafre, explains that the organization steps in where public education fails to reach those most in need, though he emphasizes that it should not replace government responsibility.
Cepafre recently secured its own building after years of using borrowed spaces, allowing it to consolidate its activities. The center’s work is inspired by Paulo Freire, a Brazilian educator known for his literacy methods that prioritize students’ lived realities, and connects to broader efforts to promote education as a tool for social change. Jacira dos Santos hopes to continue her studies and even attend university, demonstrating the transformative power of literacy at any age.
