Social entrepreneur Tiago Silva, founder of the “Mochileiro pela Educação” project, will be one of the speakers at the Bett Brasil 2023, Latin America's largest education and technology event, which will take place May 9–12 at the Transamerica Expo Center in São Paulo (SP). 

The social entrepreneur travels through cities across Brazil, distributing books to public schools, indigenous villages, quilombos, NGOs, and youth groups he encounters along the way. He has already visited 87 municipalities—most of them in the Northeast—and distributed nearly 12,000 books during his journey.

“I strongly believe that reading is a fundamental skill for the teaching and learning of Brazilian students. It is through reading that students are exposed to a variety of ideas, information, and perspectives that can help them expand their knowledge and understanding of the world around them,” says Tiago. He will deliver an inspirational talk titled “The Legacy of a Backpack” on May 12 at 5:00 p.m. in the auditorium at the Bett Brasil Conference.

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In the interview below, the expert discusses the main points he’ll cover during his panel, the impact of the “Backpacker for Education” initiative, and his expectations for Bett Brasil. Check it out!

Bett Blog - You’ll be one of the inspiring speakers at Bett Brasil 2023, and your talk will focus on “The Legacy of a Backpack.” What are the main points you’ll cover in your talk, and what can you share with the audience in advance?

Tiago Silva - The talk “The Legacy of a Backpack” is an opportunity to share. In this talk, I’ll share with the audience my entire journey—from the time education saved me, through the creation of “Backpacker for Education,” up to the present day. 

The “Mochileiro pela Educação” case study is a great example of how to build a learning journey. During the lecture, strategies will be shared for consolidating the “Mochileiro pela Educação” social enterprise and striving to specialize, learn, relearn, reconstruct one’s way of thinking, and rediscover how to carry out various processes to maintain the strength of the journey toward education. 

In addition, the presentation will highlight the importance of forming partnerships to foster the development of innovative processes within the social enterprise sector, the results of the project’s activities, and everything that makes up the social impact enterprise Mochileiro pela Educação.

Building something meaningful, such as a legacy, is a selfless commitment to the future, and this has been the guiding principle of the “Backpacker for Education” initiative and its actions based on SDG 4. The personal responsibility involved requires an effort whose true value will only become apparent over time. This is the main message of the talk “The Legacy of a Backpack.” 

By the end of the presentation, the target audience is expected to have a basic understanding of how to create a social impact business project in education that uses books to achieve key goals of SDG 4. Understand the development and strategies of a social impact business; recognize that social and environmental impact projects often begin in school; increase support for social impact business projects, especially in the field of education; and connect these efforts to the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 4—Quality Education. 

Participants are also expected to develop their vision for the future with personal conviction, resilience, and self-confidence to overcome adversity, as well as a willingness to commit to a cause. Knowing that only in hindsight will the true magnitude of the legacy they have built become apparent. 

Bett Blog - Throughout your long career, you have been extensively involved in distributing books to public schools, NGOs, indigenous villages, quilombos, and youth groups. How do you assess the importance of reading in the teaching and learning of students in Brazil?

Tiago Silva - I strongly believe that reading is a fundamental skill for the teaching and learning of Brazilian students. It is through reading that students are exposed to a variety of ideas, information, and perspectives that can help them expand their knowledge and understanding of the world around them.

In addition, reading is a fundamental skill for developing verbal and written fluency; it also enhances the ability to interpret texts and fosters creativity and imagination. Not to mention that it develops critical thinking, thereby enabling students to question and analyze the information they are reading and form their own opinions. 

Books have the power to transform lives in many ways. They serve as an important tool for education and personal development, helping us acquire new skills and valuable knowledge. Furthermore, books are a source of inspiration and motivation, especially for those who come from less privileged backgrounds, as in my case. Books have helped me face personal challenges and understand the world around me. 

In short, it is important for everyone to understand that reading is a fundamental skill that can transform lives, and for parents and educators to encourage children and young people to read by providing access to a wide variety of books and reading materials. 

Bett Blog - In your view, what are the main educational challenges today, and what paths can be taken to advance education in Brazil?

Tiago Silva - In my view, there are several current educational challenges that must be addressed to improve the quality of education in Brazil. Some of these challenges include: ensuring that all children and young people in the country have access to quality education, regardless of their geographic location, socioeconomic background, or physical condition; ensuring that the education provided is of high quality, with up-to-date curricula, well-trained teachers, and adequate resources; reducing educational inequalities between different regions of the country and among different socioeconomic groups; effectively incorporating technology into education to make learning more interesting, engaging, and personalized; and improving initial and continuing teacher training so that teachers can provide a quality education tailored to students’ needs.

To advance education in Brazil, we must invest in public policies that address these challenges in an integrated and sustainable manner. Some measures that could be adopted include: investing in teacher training and professional development; expanding access to education by establishing more schools and universities; effectively incorporating technology into education through the development of digital educational resources; developing inclusion policies to ensure that all children and young people have access to education; and encouraging community participation in education.

In my view, these are just a few of the measures that could be adopted to improve education in Brazil. This would substantially help our country's education system.

Bett Blog - The central theme of Bett Brasil 2023 will be “Education and Work for New Futures.” Could you tell us what this theme means to you?

Tiago Silva - For me, the theme “Education and Work for New Futures” represents the need to rethink the way we educate and prepare people for a world in constant change.

We must stay alert to the constant changes that occur in record time. That is why lifelong learning is essential. People need to constantly update their knowledge, learn, and develop new skills. Another important point is entrepreneurship, which—through entrepreneurial education and innovation—must always be encouraged so that people can create opportunities that can change their lives.

I would also like to highlight the importance of inclusion and diversity, which should be valued. It is important to ensure that everyone has access to the same educational opportunities, regardless of their socioeconomic background, gender, race, or physical condition.

Another important point concerns technology. It can be an ally, but it cannot replace the teacher’s role. Technology can be an important tool for learning and improving skills, but it should not be viewed as a complete solution, since the teacher’s role is essential for guiding and encouraging students in their learning process. 

In summary, the theme “Education and Work for New Futures” calls for reflection on learning processes and the way we educate and prepare people to cope with constant change. It encourages lifelong learning, an entrepreneurial culture, inclusion, and diversity, as well as the use of technology as an ally—without losing sight of the importance and role of teachers. 

Bett Blog - Finally, what are your expectations for Bett Brasil? 

Tiago Silva - I am very happy to be participating in Bett Brasil and to contribute to the largest education and technology event in Latin America. In addition to bringing all the experience I have gained over 10 years of work with my project, “Mochileiro pela Educação,” I also want to learn a great deal from the leading education experts in the Americas. 

I know this will be a moment of great importance, as Bett Brasil is where everyone comes together to discuss the challenges facing education in the coming years and propose solutions to those challenges. I am certain it will be a valuable, inspiring, and unique experience. Personally speaking, it is a dream come true; when I received the invitation, I was very happy and realized that our efforts are contributing to a better future in education. 

Learn and share. That will be my mindset while at Bett Brasil. I’m sure it will be an unforgettable experience, and that we’ll leave the event even stronger and with much greater hope that education will transform more and more lives in every corner of Brazil. 

Countdown

Bett Brasil is coming soon! From May 9 to 12, more than 160 sessions are scheduled, including panel discussions, roundtable discussions, inspirational talks, and workshops, featuring more than 280 experts who will discuss the paths and prospects for the future of education.

Based on the central theme “Education and Work for New Futures,” the event will address the following thematic areas: Basic Education (Curriculum, Technology, Assessment, Educator Development, Learning, and Diversity) and Ahead by Bett (Employability, Hybrid Learning, Innovation, Initial Training, and the Integration of Continuing Education into the Curriculum). There will be eight auditoriums discussing these topics, in addition to the Administrators’ Forum, Bett Conect@, Bett Startups, and other attractions. 

To participate, register for free access to the trade show’s exhibition area or sign up to attend the event’s presentations here.

 

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