Promundo launches children's book to prevent physical and humiliating punishment

On May 3rd, Promundo launched the children's book Vento no Rosto with a debate on new possibilities for education without violence. The book was created by 12 boys and girls, between 6 and 13 years old, from the Maré community, participants in the Sport, Culture and Citizenship project of the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz). The project developed by Promundo, with funding from Save the Children, aimed to give children a voice on how they think they could be educated without the use of violence. The event was attended by children and parents from the project, as well as people linked to the theme.

Vanessa Fonseca and Letícia Serafim, from Instituto Promundo, spoke about the project methodology and the process of constructing children's stories with children. João Pedro Gonçalves Freitas, 9 years old, project participant told about his experience and what he learned from the project.

Carlos Zuma, from the Noos Institute, spoke about the damage caused to children's development and self-esteem by exposure to situations of violence and the changes in the roles of men and women throughout history, which requires thinking about new ways of educating without the use of violence. “Corporal punishment causes more harm than it educates people. They provoke fear instead of provoking reflection,” he said. Ana Paula Rodrigues, from Fundação Xuxa Meneghel, spoke about Bill 7672, which prohibits the application of physical and humiliating punishments against children. “It is not a case of blaming families, but of thinking together about alternatives, what to replace punishments and spankings. The trivialized punishment undermines the child’s self-esteem every day.”

Angélica Gonçalves, João Pedro's mother, said that the event made her reflect on the effects of punishments and humiliations on his development. “I was very communicative and creative, just like my son is today, but as time went by, after my mother said I was no good, I became withdrawn.”

The book Vento no Rosto is part of the Institute's efforts to stimulate debate about alternatives to education without the use of physical and humiliating punishments and will be distributed in schools and community libraries.