Conflict Transformation in Brazil

In the Spring of 2023, five Rohatyn Global Scholars from Middlebury College traveled to Brazil as part of an exchange program organized with the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF). Students explored themes of climate change, education, race, social and economic inequalities, sustainability, and conservation through experiential learning and community engagement.

The five-day exchange, which brought Middlebury students to Niterói, included visits to several partner organizations and institutions.

Universidade Federal Fluminense

Middlebury students attended a webinar called Global Inequalities, Conflicts and Solutions. They learned about the main environmental issues in Brazil and issues of education, inequality and diversity at UFF. Finally, they visited the UFF Water Resources and Environmental Engineering Department to learn about sustainable technology projects.

The Boat School

Students spent a full day at The Boat School, which promotes the social inclusion of young people in socially vulnerable positions. The role of sport in promoting dialogue and inclusion the practical example of how a family of Olympic sport sailing medalists is making an impact on the community by providing the structure for conscious interaction with the environment.

Learn more about the Boat School and the Grael Project here.

Itaipu Regional Excursions

Middlebury students were paired with peers from UFF for a walk at Serra da Tiririca State Park, they learned about an eco-barrier responsible for collecting and removing hundred of quilos of waste monthly from the João Mendes River, in Niterói and ended the day enjoying Itaipu Beach. They gained an understanding of the dynamics of local activism to protect the environment and to fight against the impacts of sewage and river pollution.

AmaDarcy is a non-profit organization created to defend and protect the natural environment of the Serra da Tiririca State Park, located in Niterói. In addition to the environment, AmaDarcy aims to foster the development of social actions and policies related to its mission. During the visit, students learned about the eco-barrier created by AmaDarcy volunteers. In March, the eco-barrier was responsible for collecting and removing 129.20kg of irregularly discarded waste from João Mendes River. In addition to witnessing the impact of the eco-barrier, students visited a mangrove area under the protective supervision of AmaDarcy. The founder shared the importance of adopting a holistic approach to environmental activism.

National Forest

Students attended a workshop on environmental monitoring using low-cost measurement instruments created by UFF. On a visit to the Serra dos Órgãos National Park, they carried out environmental measurements inside the park, were introduced the Atlantic Forest biome, and learned how the park and the city of Teresópolis are tied to Brazil colonial history. 

NGO Visit

Students learned about circular economy models, immigration, and Latin American women’s refugee movements through a visit to an NGO. Mulheres do Sul Global is an organization dedicated to the economic empowerment of refugee women.

Brazilian Students

UFF students learned about issues in Middlebury and the U.S. and conflict transformation efforts through the following activities:

• A seminar with Middlebury’s Global Partnerships for Sustainability program in Chile, which has a human rights track focused on indigenous issues in the Temuco region 
• Attending a class with a Conflict Transformation, Environmental Studies, or sustainability theme
• A special joint Rohatyn Global Scholars/Rohatyn Global Fellows speaker event sponsored by the Rohatyn Center for Global Affairs
• A panel/seminar with members of the UN Americas Regional Centers of Expertise, co-sponsored with the Greater Burlington Sustainable Education Network and some of the South American members 
• A campus-wide sustainability tour of Middlebury which highlighted the activities programs, and facilities the College has adopted to reduce its carbon footprint and support sustainable development. 
• An event arranged by the Portuguese Department in which they interacted with a select group of Midd Portuguese and Latin American Studies students who have studied in Brazil

One goal of this project was to foster intercultural communication and listening among Middlebury students and their Brazilian peers. Both Middlebury and UFF students learned about the impediments which complicate addressing these issues, and how they are being addressed in each locale. Interaction between the Middlebury and UFF students provided a unique chance to learn about the current conflicts and solutions in the educational and in the environmental spheres in Brazil and in the United States, as well as the conflicts within US and Brazilian politics and public policies. Upon completion of both trips, UFF and Middlebury College students will participate in a mini-conference over Zoom where they will share what they have learned from the educational exchange.