EEEM Professora Maria Das Graças Escócio Cerqueira

Creating environmental guardians in the heart of the Amazon

EEEM Professora Maria das Graças Escócio Cerqueira, a state secondary school in Itaituba, Brazil, educates students as environmental guardians of the Amazon, boosting biodiversity and community engagement. Founded in 2004, the school targets the critical challenges posed by deforestation, loss of biodiversity, and socio-economic disparities, educating its 240 students to be proactive stewards of their lush, diverse surroundings.

The school’s curriculum is richly infused with sustainability, propelling students to delve into local flora studies and reforestation, connecting them directly with the land they inhabit. Through the “Yellow Ipê Seed Project”, students engage in seed collection and tree planting, substantially boosting local biodiversity and fostering ecological awareness.

Quantitatively, the school's projects have shown marked success, with participation tripling from 11 to 34 members, and thereby impacting around 500 individuals indirectly. Qualitatively, the transformation in student engagement and community perception have heightened school enrollment and attendance, transforming it from a regular school into a sought-after educational model for the region, demonstrating a robust commitment to ecological and educational sustainability.

The school’s collaboration with NGOs and local government has made environmental education a cornerstone of the community's development. These partnerships have expanded the school’s reach, involved it in national competitions, and helped students like Albert find a sense of belonging and achievement through inclusivity and success in environmental initiatives.

Should EEEM Professora Maria das Graças win the World’s Best School Prize for Environmental Action, the funds will bolster infrastructure, expand educational programmes, and enhance community outreach, ensuring that its model of environmental stewardship and education continues to thrive and inspire.