A new perspective on the Marajó Archipelago

On one side, the Amazon River; on the other, the Atlantic Ocean. In the middle, the largest coastal island in Brazil and the largest fluviomarine island in the world – bathed simultaneously by river and ocean waters: Marajó Island, in Pará.

Amidst the magnificent achievements of the Marajó Archipelago, which fill us with pride, there are others that concern us, such as that of the municipality of Melgaço, which has the worst Human Development Index (HDI) in the country, according to the 2010 census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE). The challenges extend to other municipalities, such as Breves, the most populous of the 16 that make up the archipelago, with approximately 100,000 inhabitants, which, despite having more economic activities, still presents unfavorable conditions for its population.

It was precisely in Breves that the work of the Mondó Network began, conceived by the National Association of Private Universities (ANUP), with strategic partnership from the Bem Maior Movement. The objective of the initiative is to strengthen and improve education in the archipelago and develop dignified conditions for its residents, transforming schools into Social Solutions Platforms that will serve as a basis for connecting the population and debating development.

Transforming through education – that's the work we believe in to create a new future. The partnership between the Bem Maior Movement and the Mondó Network marks a meeting of purposes and plans to generate social impact focused on infrastructure, skills development, and innovation. Important achievements confirm that we are on the right track: in rural, urban, and riverside communities, 1,110 people have already been consulted, in addition to 197 education professionals and 32 health stakeholders.

To achieve this result, the work previously involved several meetings with representatives from Marajó: public, health and school administrators, municipal councils, NGOs, religious and higher education institutions, municipal and university associations.

This is the secret to success and the path we always strive to follow: being with the community, understanding its real needs, and starting from its demands. In this way, we can create together the new reality that the region's schools need to strengthen themselves, helping the most vulnerable population in the area.

The union of multidisciplinary organizations, municipal public authorities, and the third sector can improve not only the HDI of the municipalities, but also create the educational foundation that will guarantee the people of Marajó a better present and future.

The slogan of the Mondó Network, "Belong & Drive," perfectly summarizes the concept of this work: to promote change together with the community. Speaking of the Marajó Archipelago and its beautiful group of islands, and addressing its population, I am reminded of the phrase by the English poet and clergyman John Donne, "No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.".

The islands remain surrounded by water, but we stand united with the population so that together we can make this region, which boasts so many important titles, also great in the education of its people.

By Carola Matarazzo

This article was originally published on the website of the newspaper O Povo (CE).

Image Credit: Press Release/MBM