Visita das secretárias Eliane Aquino e Eloísa Galdino

** report 2-2011

No último dia 24 de fevereiro de 2011 a secretária Eliane Aquino (Inclusão, Assistência e Desenvolvimento Social), a secretária Eloísa Galdino (Cultura) e assessores, foram conhecer os projetos que o IPTI está desenvolvendo em Santa Luzia do Itanhy, em especial o projeto de inclusão produtiva, nos moldes de economias criativas, que é coordenado pela Diretora-presidente do IPTI, Renata Piazzalunga.

Da esquerda para direita: Eliane Aquino, Kelley White (designer), Saulo Barretto, Eloísa Galdino e Renata Piazzalunga

Depois de conhecerem o projeto Cultura em Foco, as Secretárias de Governo foram conhecer a sede do IPTI, onde participaram de uma reunião cuja objetivo foi reforçar o alinhamento dos projetos do IPTI com as diretrizes e ações destas secretarias. A expectativa, com a assinatura do 1^o Contrato de Gestão entre o IPTI e o Governo de Sergipe, é que esta interação entre as partes interessadas se torne mais intensa.

Mais informações sobre esta visita podem ser obtidas em:

http://www.agencia.se.gov.br/noticias/leitura/materia:21901/secretarias_da_cultura_e_da_inclusao_conhecem_projeto_de_economia_criativa.html

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Visit of the State Secretaries Eliane Aquino and Eloísa Galdino – the last day February 24, 2011 Secretary Eliane Aquino (Inclusion, Welfare and Social Development), Secretary Eloísa Galdino (Culture) and advisors, were aware of the projects that IPTI is developing in Santa Luzia do Itanhy, especially the productive inclusion project based on creative economies model, which is coordinated by the Director-President of IPTI, Renata Piazzalunga.

From left to right: Eliane Aquino, Kelley White (designer), Saulo Barretto, Eloísa Galdino and Renata Piazzalunga

After becoming aware of the project Culture in Focus, both State Secretaries of the Government were to know the IPTI headquarters, where they participated in a meeting whose purpose was to strengthen the alignment between the IPTI projects and the guidelines and actions of these Secretaries. The expectation, with the upcoming signing of the first Management Agreement between the Government of Sergipe and IPTI is that this interaction becomes more intense.

More information about this visit can be found at (only in Portuguese):

http://www.agencia.se.gov.br/noticias/leitura/materia:21901/secretarias_da_cultura_e_da_inclusao_conhecem_projeto_de_economia_criativa.html

Visita da presidente da Fundação Aperipê

** report 2-2011

No último dia 03 de fevereiro de 2011 a diretora-presidente da Fundação Aperipê, Sra. Indira Amaral, visitou os projetos do IPTI em Santa Luzia do Itanhy, onde discutimos sobre possibilidades e cooperação entre ambas as instituições, em torno de projetos que visem a popularização e disseminação do conhecimentos científico.

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Visit of the President of the Aperipê Foundation – the last day February 3, 2011 the President of the Aperipê Foundation, which is in charge of the public TV and radio in Sergipe, Mrs. Indira Amaral, visited the projects in Santa Luzia do IPTI Itanhy, where we discussed potential for cooperation between both institutions around projects aimed at popularization and dissemination of scientific knowledge.

Posse da SBPC no Conselho de Administração do IPTI

** report 2-2011

No último dia 21 de janeiro de 2011, realizou-se uma reunião extraordinária do Conselho de Administração do IPTI, para dar posse aos representantes da Sociedade Brasileira para o Progresso da Ciência (SBPC), no caso os professores Otávio Guilherme Cardoso Alves Velho (titular) e Roberto Kant de Lima (suplente), ambos antropólogos.

Após a reunião, os representantes da SBPC visitaram Santa Luzia do Itanhy, para conhecer os projetos e conversar com representantes da comunidade de pescadores do Crasto.

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SBPC took office on the Board of IPTI – the last day 21 January 2011, held an extraordinary meeting of the Board of IPTI to give possession to the representatives of the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), where professors Otávio Guilherme Cardoso Alves Velho (titular) And Roberto Kant de Lima (substitute), both anthropologists.

After the meeting, representatives of SBPC visited Santa Luzia do Itanhy to know the projects and talk with representatives of the fishing community do Crasto.

Projeto captados para 2011-2012

** report 1-2011

O IPTI conseguiu elaborar e captar importantes projetos para desenvolver em Sergipe, ao longo dos próximos anos, num claro sinal de avanço no processo de consolidação do centro de pesquisas de Santa Luzia do Itanhy e de sua sustentabilidade financeira. A seguir apresentamos a relação de projetos captados, com a fonte de financiamento e um pequeno resumo de cada projeto.

• Plataforma tecnológica de apoio ao planejamento e desenvolvimento municipal da educação
  Financiador: OI
  Resumo: Produzir uma Tecnologia Social para rede pública de ensino de Santa Luzia do Itanhi, voltada à melhoria dos processos de ensino e de aprendizagem, baseada na sistematização e consolidação de uma experiência de neuro-educação (Educação Inclusiva), e no desenvolvimento e consolidação de um sistema informatizado de gerenciamento da rede pública de ensino, criando condições para sua expansão para toda a rede de escolas do município, e sua posterior adoção por outros municípios.

• Plano de Gestão Participativa do Turismo do município de Santa Luzia do Itanhy
  Financiador: Ministério do Turismo
  Resumo: Construir, de forma participativa, um Plano de Gestão do Turismo para o município de Santa Luzia do Itanhy, baseado nos principais ativos imateriais locais, e sistematizar o processo de forma que ele possa ser re-aplicado em outras regiões.

• Ampliação e fortalecimento da difusão de Tecnologias Sociais através de redes virtuais de conhecimento
  Financiador: Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia
  Resumo: Potencializar o compartilhamento, a difusão e a construção coletiva de conhecimento acerca de de tecnologias sociais, a partir da RTS e de seus membros, através do emprego de processos colaborativos, em redes virtuais, e gerar conhecimento científico sobre o emprego de redes de conhecimento como estratégia de promoção de desenvolvimento sustentável.

• Redes de Conhecimento voltadas à Negócios e Empreendedorismo
  Financiador: SEBRAE
  Resumo: Construir uma metodologia (software e conhecimento/processo) para suporte e estímulo à geração de trabalho e renda e melhoria da competitividade para pequenos e micro empreendedores, através da formação de redes de negócios (B2B), redes de conhecimento e de inovação, utilizando os mecanismos de colaboração e compartilhamento em redes proporcionados pelo emprego da Web 2.0.

A seguir apresentamos um diagrama onde indicamos todos os projetos que o IPTI está desenvolvendo em Sergipe, nas 3 áreas principais de atuação (educação, saúde pública e economias criativas) e na área transversal de P&D, numa espécie de linha do tempo. Os projetos indicados na cor verde são aqueles que já têm os recursos financeiros assegurados, ao passo que os indicados em cinza estão em fase preliminar de negociação e os em azul são decorrência natural de outros projetos, mas ainda não têm seu escopo definidos.

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Projects approved for the period 2011-2012 – IPTI has managed to negotiate and approve major projects to develop in Sergipe, over the next few years, a clear sign of progress in the consolidation process of the research center of Santa Luzia do Itanhy and financial sustainability. Following is the list of projects approved, with the funding source and a short summary of each project.

• Computational platform to support municipal planning and development of education
  Sponsor: OI
  Summary: To produce a Social Technology for the public schools in Santa Luzia do Itanhy, focused on the improvement of teaching and learning, based on the systematization and consolidation of an experience of neuro-education (inclusive education), and the development and consolidation of a computerized management system of public education, creating conditions for its expansion into the entire network of local schools, and its subsequent adoption by other municipalities.

• Participatory Management Plan of Tourism of Santa Luzia do Itanhy
  Sponsor: Brazilian Ministry of Tourism
  Summary: Build in a participatory way, a Tourism Management Plan for the municipality of Santa Luzia do Itanhy, based on its intangible assets and systematize the process so that it can be re-applied elsewhere.

• Expansion and strengthening of the diffusion of technologies through social networks of virtual knowledge
  Sponsor: Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology
  Summary: Promote the sharing, dissemination and collective construction of knowledge about social technologies, from the RTS and its members, through the use of collaborative processes in virtual networks, and generate scientific knowledge about the use of knowledge networks as a strategy promotion of sustainable development.

• Knowledge networks focused on Business and Entrepreneurship
  Sponsor: SEBRAE
  Summary: Building a methodology (software and knowledge / process) to support and stimulate the generation of employment and income and improve competitiveness for small and micro entrepreneurs through networking business (B2B), knowledge networks and innovation, using the mechanisms for collaboration and sharing on networks provided by the use of Web 2.0.

Below is a chart which indicated that all projects in Sergipe IPTI is developing in three main areas of activity (education, public health and creative economies) and the cross-sectional area of R & D, in a kind of timeline. The projects listed in green are those that already have the financial resources provided, while those indicated in gray are in the preliminary stage of negotiation and in blue are a natural outgrowth of other projects, but have not yet defined its scope. The titles of the projects are not exact the same as above just to fit the smaller spaces.

1a fase do projeto de combate à Anemia

** report 5-2010

Estamos chegando ao final da 1a fase do projeto voltado a reduzir a prevalência de anemia nas escolas públicas de Santa Luzia do Itanhy, projeto este financiado pelo Ministério da Saúde, através da Organização Pan-Americana da Saúde. Nossa equipe realizou exames em mais de 1.700 alunos das 7 maiores escolas do município e detectou uma prevalência média de 27,7%, sendo que esta prevalência piora nas classes de crianças menores, chegando a 51% na classe de crianças com 3 anos de idade. A tabela a seguir apresenta os resultados médios por escola.

O projeto avança na fase de tratamento e de mudança nos hábitos alimentares, sendo que em 2011 vamos concluir o trabalho nas demais escolas, chegando a 100% de escolas atendidas.

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1^a phase of the project to combat anemia – we are close to the end of the first phase of the project aimed at reducing the prevalence of anemia in the public schools of Santa Luzia do Itanhy. This project is funded by the Ministry of Health, through the Pan American Health Organization. Our team performed tests on over 1,700 students from seven largest schools and found an average prevalence of 27.7%, and this worsens the prevalence of minor children in grades as high as 51% in the class of children 3 years old. The following table presents the average scores per school.

The project progresses during treatment and change in eating habits, and in 2011 we will complete the work in other schools, reaching 100% of schools served.

Projeto Aratu

** report 5-2010

O Aratu é um crustáceo típico da culinária sergipana e a região de Santa Luzia do Itanhy ainda é a que mais explora a sua pesca.

Contudo, existem sinais evidentes de que este crustáceo vive uma grave situação de risco de desaparecer da região, devido à pesca excessiva e também ao fato de não existirem estudos sobre a cadeia biológica do Aratu. Além do risco ambiental, existem também problemas de natureza econômica e de saúde. As famílias que vivem da pesca do Aratu vivem em condições de pobreza, com uma renda média mensal de R$ 170,00, tendo em média 4 filhos, e sem nenhum atendimento médico adequado, trabalhando no manguezal 7 dias por semana.

O IPTI, com parceiros (GIA, Universidade de São Paulo, Universidade Federal de Sergipe), elaborou um projeto voltado a desenhar um plano de exploração sustentável do Aratu, com base no modelo de economias criativas, o qual prevê as seguintes etapas:

• Avaliação do estado de conservação dos estoques naturais de Aratu
• Avaliar as características composicionais dos resíduos da pesca do aratu
• Desenvolver e realizar um campanha de educação ambiental, que auxilie na conservação do Aratu
• Avaliação da Condições de Saúde, Trabalho e da Qualidade de Vida das mulheres catadoras de aratu
• Gerar um plano de negócios para a pesca do Aratu, baseado num modelo de exploração sustentável, tanto ambiental quanto humana

Infelizmente não foi possível viabilizar financeiramente este projeto em 2010, apesar da urgência do caso e da boa receptividade que o projeto teve no Ministério de Ciência e Tecnologia e no Ministério do Desenvolvimento Agrário, órgãos públicos que procuramos para apresentar o problema e solução desenhada. Esperamos que em 2011 tenhamos condições de iniciar este proejto, haja visto que ainda serão necessários alguns anos para que um novo modelo de exploração do Aratu seja devidamente absorvido pelos atuais pescadores.

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Aratu's project – Aratu (a crustacean) is a typical cuisine of Sergipe and Santa Luzia do Itanhy is still the region that most exploited its fisheries.

However, there are clear signs that this crustacean lives is serious risk of disappearing from the region due to overfishing and to the fact that there are no studies on the biological chain of Aratu. Besides the environmental risk, there are also problems of economic nature and health. Families living fishing for Aratu live in poverty, with an average monthly income of 70 euros, taking on average 4 children, and no proper medical care, working in the mangrove seven days a week. This fishing activity is usually taken by women.

IPTI with partners like GIA, University of São Paulo and the Federal University of Sergipe) has elaborated a project to develop a plan for sustainable exploitation of Aratu, based on the model of creative economies, which includes the following steps:

• Evaluation of conservation status of natural stocks of Aratu
• Evaluate the compositional characteristics of crab waste (shell)
• Develop and implement an environmental education campaign, to assist in the conservation of Aratu
• Assessment of health, work and quality of life status between the women involved with the Aratu fishing
• Generate a business plan for the fishing of Aratu, based on a model of sustainable, both environmental and human

Unfortunately it was not possible to get the necessary funds to carry this project in 2010, despite the urgency of the case and the good reception that the project has received by the Ministry of Science and Technology and Ministry of Rural Development, the public agencies that we first visited to present the problem and the designed solution. Hopefully in 2011 we may be able to start this project, since there still will take several years for a new exploration model Aratu be properly absorbed by existing fishermen.

Reunião na Fundação Gulbenkian

** report 5-2010

No último dia 1 de outubro tivemos uma reunião bastante inspiradora com a Enga. Luisa Valle, diretora do Programa de Desenvolvimento Humano, da Fundação Galouste Gulbenkian, em Lisboa. O objetivo desta reunião era aproximar o IPTI da Fundação Gulbenkian, em especial na perspectiva de disseminação conjunta das tecnologias sociais desenvolvimento no Brasil para os países de língua portuguesa. Além disso, a Fundação Gulbenkian acenou para a possibilidade de realizar uma doação de algumas de suas publicações para a biblioteca que o IPTI instalará no Povoado do Crasto, em 2011. Uma nova reunião ficou de ser marcada, para aprofundar esta possibilidade de parceria entre as instituições.

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Meeting at Gulbenkian Foundation – last October 1^st we had a very inspiring meeting with Ms. Luisa Valle, director of the Human Development Program, from the Galouste Gulbenkian Foundation, Lisbon. The purpose of this meeting was to introduce IPTI to Gulbenkian Foundation, particularly in view of joint dissemination of social technologies being developed in Brazil for the Portuguese-speaking countries. Moreover, the Gulbenkian Foundation waved to the possibility of a donation of some of its publications for the library IPTI will install in the Crasto Village in 2011. A further meeting will be scheduled to further discuss this possibility of partnership between both institutions.

Turismo e Cultura

** report 5-2010

O IPTI, em parceria com a Secretaria de Estado do Desenvolvimento Econômico, Ciência e Tecnologia e do Turismo, negociou com o Ministério do Turismo (MTur) o apoio financeiro para a elaboração de um plano de gestão participativa do turismo na região, elemento essencial para que as ações de formação e de empreendedorismo possam ser desenvolvidas de acordo com as reais demandas e potencialidades do município. A proposta de convênio está em fase final de análise pelo MTur e esperamos iniciar os trabalhos em janeiro de 2011, pelo período de 12 meses. Este projeto é crucial para a comunidade de Santa Luzia, visto que o Governo Estadual está realizando uma série de obras de infraestrutura para ampliar as possibilidades de turismo na região. Contudo, se estas obras não forem acompanhadas da qualificação da oferta turística, podem significar uma perigosa contra o meio-ambiente da região, que já vive uma situação de fragilidade.

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Tourism and Culture – IPTI in partnership with the State Secretariat of Economic Development, Science and Technology and Tourism, negotiated with the Ministry of Tourism (MTur) a financial support for the development of a participatory management plan for tourism in the region, essential for that the actions of training and entrepreneurship can be developed according to the real demands and capabilities of the municipality. The proposed agreement is under final review by the MTur and we hope to begin the work in January 2011 for a period of 12 months. This project is crucial for the community of Santa Luzia, as the State Government is conducting a series of infrastructure works to expand the possibilities of tourism in the region. However, if these works are not accompanied by the qualification of tourism, could mean a dangerous against the environment of the region which is already experiencing a fragile situation.

Planejamento Estratégico do IPTI (2011-2013)

** report 5-2010

Nós concluímos uma versão preliminar do Planejamento Estratégico do IPTI para os próximos 3 anos, o qual será apreciado pelo Conselho de Administração e, posteriormente, pela Assembléia Geral dos Associados da instituição. Este documento estabelece um conjunto de metas e de ações que os principais parceiros interessados devem empreender, de forma complementar, para que o processo de consolidação do IPTI, em especial da unidade do IPTI em Santa Luzia do Itanhy, tenha maior chance de êxito.

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IPTI's Strategic Planning (2011-2013) – we elaborated a preliminary version of the Strategic Planning for the next three years, which will be considered by the Board and subsequently by the General Assembly of the Associates Researchers of IPTI. This document defines a set of goals and actions that the main partners should undertake, in a complementary manner, so that the process of consolidating IPTI, especially its unity of Santa Luzia do Itanhy, has a greater chance of success. 

Museu Guigó: Arte, Ciência e Tecnologia

** report 5-2010

Como muito devem saber, em setembro de 2009 o IPTI adquiriu uma área de 130.000 m², para futuramente construir um centro internacional de arte, ciência e tecnologia, que tivesse como elementos transversais a cultura e meio-ambiente (a essência do The Human Project).

Esta área, separada do Povoado do Crasto por um pequeno riacho, tem uma extensa cobertura de manguezais, sendo que ao fundo a área encosta na floresta de mata atlântica. Ou seja, é uma área perfeita para a instalação de um centro que pretenda integrar arte, ciência, tecnologia, ecologia e cultura, o qual batizamos de Museu Guigó: Arte, Ciência e Tecnologia.

Neste mês de novembro de 2010 o IPTI deu um importante passo no sentido de viabilizar a construção do Museu Guigó. Nós elaboramos uma proposta que prevê 2 fases, com 2 etapas cada:

• 1^a Fase
  • Concurso internacional de arquitetura
  • Pesquisa para construção participativa do acervo
• 2^a Fase
  • Obra
  • Exposição itinerante e abertura do Museu com exposição do acervo

O Museu Guigó foi inicialmente concebido para ser um espaço científico-cultural, contendo um museu, um cine/teatro, uma biblioteca e um prédio para abrigar laboratórios e escritórios para os pesquisadores e artistas, num total de 3.970 m². O projeto arquitetônico do Museu deverá levar em conta princípios de sustentabilidade e acessibilidade, além de buscar a integração dos prédios com o seu entorno. São parceiros desta proposta o Instituto de Arquitetos do Brasil (IAB), a Sociedade Internacional Leonardo, de Arte, Ciência e Tecnologia e a União Internacional dos Arquitetos (UIA).

Nós submetemos a 1^a Fase da proposta ao Ministério da Cultura (MinC), dentro da lei de incentivo à cultura (Lei Rouanet). Caso nosso projeto seja aprovado, obteremos a autorização para negociar os recursos com o setor privado, com redução de 100% dos impostos, daquilo que for investido. Nossa previsão é que a resposta do MinC seja anunciada entre fevereiro de março de 2011.

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Museum Guigó: Art, Science and Technology (responsible researcher: Dra. Renata Piazzalunga) – as many knows, in September 2009 IPTI had acquired an area of 130,000 m², to further build an international center of art, science and technology, having culture and environment as crosscutting elements (the essence of The Human Project).

This area is separated from the Crasto Village by a small brook and has an extensive cover of mangroves, and the bottom slope in the atlantic forest. Namely, it is a perfect area for the installation of a center that wishes to integrate art, science, technology, ecology and culture, which we named as Guigó Museum: Art, Science and Technology.

In November of 2010 IPTI took an important step towards enabling the construction of the Museum Guigou. We worked out a proposal that includes two phases, each with two steps:

• 1^st Phase
  • International architectural competition
  • Research project aiming for a participatory construction of the museum collection
• 2^nd Phase
  • Building
  • Traveling exhibition and opening of the Museum with exhibition of the collection

The Guigó Museum was originally designed to be a scientific and cultural space, containing a museum, a cinema/theater, a library and a building to house laboratories and offices for researchers and artists, in a total of 3.970 m². The architectural design of the Museum should take into account principles of sustainability and accessibility, in addition to seeking the integration of buildings with their surroundings. Are partners in this proposal, the Institute of Architects of Brazil (IAB), the Leonardo International Society, Art, Science and Technology and the Union Internationale des Architectes (UIA).

We submit the first phase of the proposal to the Ministry of Culture (MinC), within the law to encourage culture (Rouanet). If our project is approved, we will obtain the authorization to negotiate the resources with the private sector, with a 100% of tax deduction. We expect that the response of MinC is announced before March, 2011.

Inclusive Education project

** report 4-2010

The project being, funded by OI Futuro Instituto, began with the pedagogic assessment of all the students from the 5 first years from 5 fundamental schools (those one with computer labs). We used the educational software named Enscer which has its tasks organized on 5 levels that matches these 5 school degrees.

The figures below shows the results of this assessment step.

Frequency of students rated as having a regular, below or above cognitive level compared to its school degree.

 

                   Mean performance of each school in each discipline using a 0 – 1 rate.


After the assessment, the teachers referred the students with greater learning difficulties. These students start to attend the lab weekly to work with specific educative programs from the Enscer according to their performance on the assessment.

1st Meeting of the IPTI Board of Managers

** report 4-2010

Last July 6^th occurred the first meeting of IPTI board of managers where we approved our Internal Guide Rule and our Regulation Guide for Expenses, which will be now published in the state official newspaper. Our board of managers is composed by 2 members from the public sector and 5 members of the civil society. This first meeting has ocurred in the city of Aracaju but the next (second) meeting is already defined to happen at IPTI main office, in the Crasto Village, next October 28^th.

Anaemia project

** report 4-2010

Last middle July we started the project focused on reducing the prevalence of anaemia between all students from Santa Luzia do Itanhy to a level below 5%, as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), which is financed by the Brazilian Ministry of Health through the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). The main aspect of this project is to develop a social technology by using the low cost device developed by our partner company Exa-M. In this sense, the first step of the project was to present a draft of methodology to all local stakeholders in order to listen and discuss with then which needs to be improved and/or changed so that the technology can be used and appropriated by the local health system. From this process we got a lot of contributions which are making our work much easier, with lower cost and high community participation. We will send you more news about this project very soon.

International and national visit to IPTI Research Centre

** report 3-2010

Last March 27^th several researchers and specialists from diverse countries visited the new IPTI research centre in Santa Luzia do Itanhy. This visit happened just after an international workshop named “ICT for socio-economic development” which was promoted by the Brazilian Ministry of Science and Technology (MCT) and the European Commission (EC), having IPTI as technical organizer. The workshop was in Aracaju, between 25^th to 26^th of March and during the weekend after we had the chance to show to all participants the new centre.

 

1st Phd in Santa Luzia

** report 3-2010

Last week we received the announcement that a fellowship for a doctor researcher was approved by FAPITEC, the state of Sergipe funding agency for science and technology. This fellowship is for 36 months and also includes a small grant for project. The fellow is Dr. Fábio Theoto Rocha, bachelor in linguistics and who worked with neuroscience and education. This is for us a great step forward the challenge to attract and install doctors working and living in Santa Luzia do Itanhy, mainly in this first begining.

Workshop with straw

** report 3-2010

We started the set of workshops to capacity people to work with local straws to produce venetian blinds. This is part of the IADB project "Cultura em Foco” and the work with straw was identified as one of the most important in terms of income for people who work with hand crafts in Santa Luzia. The main problem is that they make products with low value and this reinforce the continuous cycle of poverty. The project now intends to establish a new line of products that have a higher value not only by producing a better good (quality and market) but also by working a brand that integrates local identity, sustainable management of local material.

In the photos below you see some images of this 1^st workshop, where people (several ladies now!) learned how to build the looms we bought (2) and also to make the first steps of venetian blinds. More 4 workshops are planned during the project lifetime. 

 

We hope you soon can be able to purchase venetian blinds produced in Santa Luzia do Itanhy by using local straws.

Opening ceremony

** report 2-2010

Last Saturday (April 24th) we celebrated the renovation and opening of IPTI's centre in Santa Luzia do Itanhy, in partnership with the Association of Fisherman of Crasto and the Women Association of Crasto, who owns the telecenter.

First we had a buffet prepared and offered by the local community and IPTI and later we went to the square to thanks for the institutions that are supporting our activities and offered to them a gift made by the young crafters. Finally we had a scientific conference “Earth – a short history” presented by Profa. Maria Helena Zucon, from the Department of Biology of the Federal University of Sergipe.

In the photos below you can have an idea about how nice was this special day for all of us.

First workshops

** report 1-2010

Last March 11^th we offered the 2 first workshops related to the project "Cultura em Foco” - wood toys and Coconut rings – with the presence of 3 local masters and 15 learners. The idea of those workshops was to create a small course of Arts & Crafts to disseminate the traditional local know-how aiming to to future stimulate the craft production.

 

IPTI's office in Santa Luzia do Itanhy is openned

** report 1-2010

After 5 month of work and with the help of several people and partners we were able to renew the house that offered to us by the Communitarian Association of Fishermen of Crasto Village (their social club). The renovation work was larger then we expected because the situation of the building was in very bad conditions but the final result was total approved by all involved (IPTI and the community of Crasto). In the photos below you can see a comparison between before and after the renovation. The external painting was made by using local soil, in a mixture between water, white glue and mineral soil.

The center now has a telecenter (10 computers and Internet access), a room for training and/or courses, a room for researchers, 2 toilets and a storeroom in a total of 200 square meters. All facilities are open and free available for the people of Santa Luzia but the priorities are for the use to support the projects coordinated by IPTI and partners and activities of communitarian interests.

MCT, SEDETEC and IPTI had signed the agreement to install a CVT

** report 1-2010

Last January 20^th we signed the formal agreement related to the implementation of a CVT (Centro Vocacional Tecnológico) in Santa Luzia do Itanhy, focused on Art, Science and Technology. The budget will come from the Ministry of Science and Technology and the State Secretariat for Development, Science, Technology and Tourism and IPTI will be responsible to coordinate all activities, including building the centre. It will have around 190 square meters with 3 toilets, a small library, 2 traning rooms (capacity for 35 people each) and a lab for science education. Our idea is to have this build ready by end of 2010.

Meeting between partners of the project “Cultura em Foco”

** report 1-2010

Last February 25^th we had a meeting between all partners involved with the creative economy project “Cultura em Foco”, with the presence of Ms Luciana Botafogo, from IADB, the main sponsor of this project. This was an opportunity to the project coordinator (Renata Piazzalunga) to explain the project in details as well as to show its currently status and results obtained until now.

 

The meeting has the presence of:

• Renata Piazzalunga and Saulo Barretto (IPTI)
• Luciana Botafogo (IADB)
• Edílson Nascimento (SEBRAE-SE)
• Marcos Wandir (SergipeTec)
• Sudanês Pereira and Jussara Alves (SEDETEC)
• Welton Santos, Vera (municipal government of Santa Luzia do Itanhy)
  
  
  
  
  

Partnership with BaneseCard

** report 1-2010

We established an important partnership with BaneseCard, a private company that operates the credit card services from the BANESE (Sergipe's state bank) which allows us to increase the investments in the ongoing project in creative economy "Cultura em Foco” in areas unforseen in the original proposal approved by the IADB (Interamerican Development Bank). We have to thanks a lot the commitment of Ms Maria Avilete Ramalho, Superintendent of BaneseCard, with our initiatives in Santa Luzia and the projects needs for support.

Visit of Beau Lotto

** report 4-2009

During the period of November 17^th to 23^th Beau Lotto has visited Sergipe. His visit was possible due the support from the State Bank of Sergipe (BANESE) who invited Mr Beau Lotto for giving a conference on "Perception” and we used the opportunity to discuss about possible cooperation between IPTI and Lotto Lab (www.lottolab.org), which is a very creative research centre. As one of the possibilities, we discussed with Mr Lotto the idea of creating an experience linking art, science and ecology, maybe using the "bioluminescence” that we find in the mangroves as an indicator of environment health. This idea was first discussed with Roger Malina and Bronac Ferran and the visit of Beau Lotto was a chance to exploit the idea in more practical details. We decided to build a proposal in the next weeks.

Partnership with ATRC, Canada

** report 4-2009

During the trip to Canada we agreed to establish a partnership with the Adaptive Technology Researcher Centre (ATRC) in the field of Inclusive Education. WE will now work on the document (agreement) in order to formalized the partnership next March with the visit of Jutta Treviranus, director of ATRC, to Sergipe. This will be our first international partnership for the center in Santa Luzia and we are very happy to start with the area of education. 

We and ATRC are working to try to get the first funding for projects and we are sure that we will come soon to you to announce good news.

Trip To Toronto, Canada

** report 4-2009

Last October we did a trip to Canada, due an invitation from Jutta Treviranus to participate in the Open Source and Accessibility Forum, and we used the opportunity to establish dialogue with some people and institutions, in a very exciting and inspiring agenda organized by Jutta. During this trip we visited and discussed about future collaboration with the following people and institutions:

• Alejandro R. Jadad – Centre for Global eHealth Innovation
• Luigi Ferrara – School of Design, George Brown College
• Monica Contreras – Ontario College of Art & Design
• Peter Pennefather and West Suhanic – Laboratory for Collaborative Diagnostic

IPTI main office now is in Santa Luzia do Itanhy

** report 4-2009

Since December 1^st the main office of IPTI is located at the city of Santa Luzia do Itanhy, more specifically at Crasto Village. We are working to renew the house of the fisherman and next January we expect to have finished the works. When ready this house will have:

• a telecenter, with 10 computers and internet access (satellite) open for communitarian use
• a room for courses/training, with capacity for 50 people
• an office for researchers with 35 square meters
• 2 bathrooms

Below you see some photos of the house and the work being done. Next January I will send new photos and an invitation for all to come for the open party.

1st products made by using local straws

** report 4-2010

The artisans from Santa Luzia, within the project “Cultura em Foco", supported by the IADB, IPTI, SEBRAE-SE and BaneseCard, have produced their first products – venetian blinds.

From the inventory done in the first phase of the project we came up to the definition that we should start working with natural fibers. The local artisans used to use those fibers to produce hats, bags, with very low value. After interviewing several designers and making an analysis of potential markets we defined the first 3 lines of products to be produced by using natural fibers: venetian blinds; luminaries, place mats. All those products have a very high value by combining design with local material and savoir faire. Those products present also the advantage of taking less material from the nature but getting much more income, fitting the sustainable handling request of the project.

In the figures below you see some examples of the venetian blinds made by different local straws and some examples of blinds with their handles. Later you can see the 1^st prototype of a luminary produced by the local artisans using the fiber named “Junco”.