Ubuntu. A concept that echoes humanity, interdependence, and the deep understanding that the existence of each individual only makes sense in relation to the other. This African philosophy, which can be translated into Portuguese as “humanity towards others”, was the central theme of be.Living’s XI Arts and Sciences Exhibition (MAC) in 2024. With the motto “I Am Because We Are,” this year’s edition invited children, educators, and families to explore, through the arts and sciences, the meaning of living in community, sharing knowledge, and perceiving themselves as part of something greater.
MAC, which since its creation has had the purpose of forming critical and socially active citizens, is more than an exhibition of school projects. She is a dive into deep pedagogical processes that seek to connect students to the essence of learning and sharing. For Gabriela Fernandes, the pedagogical coordinator of Elementary Education at our school, the choice of the Ubuntu theme is a direct reflection of be.Living’s commitment to an education that seeks to form conscious individuals, with a sense of belonging and responsibility towards the collective: “We seek to expand the idea that we are not separate from nature or from each other. We are nature, we are community, and the Ubuntu philosophy represents this in a very powerful way.
Over months of preparation, MAC proved to be a space of protagonism for female and male students, who were encouraged to raise questions, test hypotheses, and create solutions. “MAC is not just about learning content. It’s about experiencing the process of being a student. Each child is inspired to pursue their ideas, to understand that knowledge only makes sense when it is shared and contributes to transforming what bothers them,” highlighted Gabriela. This journey is carefully planned to develop autonomy, according to the age group of the children: in the first and second years, the works are presented in groups. In the fifth year, they culminate in individual and authorial projects.
The arts and sciences, areas intrinsically linked, are the foundation for this learning experience. “Art is fundamental to perceiving and representing the world, while the sciences – both social and natural – help us understand it. Together, they reveal human action in the world and our responsibility for it,” explains Gabriela. Thus, themes such as matter and energy, light and shadow, or biodiversity were explored from the perspective of collective thinking, with the children exchanging learning with each other even before presenting the projects to the families.
The impact of MAC goes beyond the walls of the school. For Gabriela, this event is a space for the exchange of knowledge that transforms everyone, including family members. “Many adults come from a more traditional education and are impressed to see children appropriating knowledge in such a deep and authorial way. MAC is a time when everyone learns: children, educators, and families. It is the essence of Ubuntu in practice: we grow with the other, in the relationship with the other.”
Closing the 2024 cycle with a flourish, be.Living’s XI MAC left as a legacy the reminder that we are not islands. We are part of a whole, a collective fabric that is strengthened in respect, solidarity, and unity. Inspired by the Ubuntu philosophy, the school reaffirmed its commitment to an education that goes beyond learning for oneself, cultivating learning to transform the world. We are because we are together!
