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Support the Jardim de Belas Flores

Education and hope in the birthplace of Mestre Irineu (São Vicente Férrer / MA).

O Jardim de Belas Flores

The community education center Jardim de Belas Flores was founded by the residents of the community in collaboration with a group of volunteer friends. Our sister Juliana Genuncio, social worker and educator, member of the Flor da Montanha church (Lumiar/RJ), has served as pedagogical coordinator and manager since 2021. The project is currently funded by donations from the Santo Daime Irmandade, though the education itself is entirely secular.

Jardim de Belas Flores is the first space of its kind in the village of Bom Jardim, in São Vicente Férrer. Located in the Baixada Maranhense, this is a territory of deep cultural and spiritual importance: it is the birthplace of the Mestre.

Despite this historical richness, the region experiences severe isolation. Reaching the village from São Luís means covering about 300 km, a journey that can take up to 11 hours due to access conditions. Jardim de Belas Flores emerges as a response to this scenario, serving as a meeting point to recover ancestral knowledge and strengthen the identity of local children.

The reality we want to transform

Bom Jardim faces complex social challenges. According to IBGE, the city has one of the highest illiteracy rates in Brazil. The lack of hospitals, basic sanitation, and public transportation shapes everyday life for families.

Climate adds further barriers: during the six rainy months, dirt roads become almost impassable, preventing children from reaching distant schools. That is why the center operates in the village itself, providing a safe and welcoming environment — a support network for the community's families — every day, from 2pm to 5pm.

How you can help

Keeping this educational oasis running requires a collective effort. Your donation provides the children's snacks, pedagogical materials, fair compensation, and ongoing training for the teachers from the community.

It would be a great help if you or your church could make a donation—or even better—set up a recurring debit order to one of the following accounts:

Our methodology

We work with Waldorf pedagogy, which understands human development in an integral way: body, soul, and spirit in harmony with the processes of nature. We serve around 30 children and teenagers, divided into early childhood and elementary groups.

• Artistic activities: watercolor painting, cooking, gardening, wax crayon drawing, handcrafts, and music circles.
• Learning support and culture: literacy and reading support for children over 7, always integrating Maranhão's popular culture.
• Natural rhythm: the calendar is organized by the seasons of the year — such as the Water Season, Easter, São João, and Advent.

Goals for 2026

For next year, our plan focuses on consolidating the structure and expanding our impact in the community:

• Playground: build a playground for children and teenagers between 7 and 14 years old.
• Renovations: renovate the classrooms and the kitchen.
• Financial sustainability: raise an additional 63,000 reais throughout 2026 for improvements to the physical space and to increase the visibility of our work.

Who makes it happen

The project is run by local educators and ISAVIÇOSA (Associação Instituto Socioambiental de Viçosa).

• Local educators: Jarliene Serra, Izidoria Souza Alves, and the assistant Elenilse Melonio (Nica) are directly responsible for the classes, bringing female empowerment to the heart of community education.
• Coordination and management: Juliana Almeida Genuncio leads pedagogical management and fundraising.
• Training and support: Maria Tereza Nunes leads the teachers' training, with support from specialists such as Verônica Calandra.