Rational use of water: interdisciplinary actions in a rural school in the Brazilian semiarid

• Published in: Revista ambiente & água 2013-04, Vol.8 (1), p.263-271
• Main Authors: Santos Júnior, José Amilton, Barros Júnior, Genival, Santos, Jullyana Karolina Lima, Brito, Elka Taiusky Ferreira Santos
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: education, extension, living with drought
• ISSN: 1980-993X; 1980-993X
• DOI: 10.4136/ambi-agua.1075

In Brazil, terms such as "drought industry" and "drought polygon" are constantly used in reference to the semiarid region of the country. Besides climatic factors and political and infrastructural issues, there is a consensus that the best way to deal with water scarcity is its rational use. While offering to contribute to the development of farmers’ communities in this region, the project "Citizen Universities", in partnership with the project "Space of Water", developed strategies involving the interdisciplinary rational management and conservation of hydric resources, to include knowledge and specific technologies in cooperation with the faculty and students of a rural public school in the Community of Uruçu, Gurinhém, PB. Progress can be seen in the practical applications of the project in the community and surrounding areas, such as forming teams to collect trash and the cleaning up of springs, and the inclusion of issues related to water together with the mandatory curriculum, in the expectation that students can apply the academic issues to their everyday life.