Juventudes, culturas e cidadanias: diálogos em perspectivas numa ONG na periferia da cidade de Fortaleza

Abstract

This research investigates the education of young men and women on the southern outskirts of Fortaleza (Pedra district and vicinity), through the action of the civil society in the educational sphere of the non-governmental organization (NGO) called Centro Cultural-Educativo, de Lazer, Informação, Trabalho e Ação Social – CELITA. It is based on studies that establish convergence between The Theory of Communicative Action, by the German thinker Jürgen Habermas and the Pedagogia Dialógica, by the Brazilian educator Paulo Freire, privileging approaches to social reality through research-action. New demands and new subjects have appeared in the national scenario due to the cultural renewal produced by the democratization process in Brazil. Among the new issues related to the organized civil society, especially, the NGOs, there emerged a critical discussion about the social thematization of the youth, and the need to overcome traditional authoritarian and exclusive practices in this segment of society, in search of pursuing perspectives based on autonomy, defense of rights, and active social participation. According to studies on this issue, such conjuncture implied in a double-folded challenge to Brazilian NGOs: innovate ideas and practices towards the youth, and, concomitantly, discuss their process of restructuring, taking into account, mainly, the aspects related to nature, mission, and objectives of these social institutions. Centro Cultural CELITA has gone through this context. This thesis has as its core object the building of processual and intersubjective knowledge about the interactions with the subjects of the research on the focused reality, to assert that, in spite of the frailty in the structure and operation of this organization, it is a flexible and dynamic institution, that provides for the production of positive attitudes and values for the youth, significantly contributing to the development, as citizens, of the young men and women involved in its activities. Moreover, it stimulates the youth to have a critical view of society and to participate in political actions and social movements in defense of rights as well as in the improvement of the quality of life in the area of its scope. The work of Centro Cultural CELITA possesses great legitimacy in the region where it is inserted, and through the cultural and educative activities it develops, it has increased its acknowledgement in Fortaleza as an organization aimed to the promotion of public policies towards the youth and in defense of democracy.