“THANK YOU, SÃO TOMÉ”

REVERBERATIONS IN LATIN AMERICA OF PAULO FREIRE'S PARTICIPATION IN SÃO TOMÉ AND PRÍNCIPE

Abstract

Paulo Freire's experience in literacy campaigns in São Tomé and Príncipe had different repercussions in Latin America. Some educators from this continent visited the African archipelago and stated that it was an important reference for other projects that would later take place in Latin American countries – such as the Mexican Arturo Ornelas and the Chilean Antonio Faundez. On the other hand, one of Paulo Freire's writings from São Tomé and Príncipe had at least two editions on this side of the world: in Ecuador and Mexico. This refers to the Letters to Cultural Animators, originally published as a manuscript on the islands in 1978. This document is quite interesting as it delves deeply into the operation of the Culture Circles from an applied perspective regarding the use of Popular Culture Notebooks and the role of literacy educators with learners. The editions of the books in Latin American countries analyze and compare the work of São Tomé and Príncipe with other local experiences. These were, therefore, theories, practices and people who circulated, physically or not, between distinct and distant communities, contributing to adult literacy through a liberating approach.