For 11 years, we have been cultivating another possibility for education.

Now we want to take a new step: to establish Elementary School at Cidade Escola Ayni. A formal, legally recognised school that keeps practising an educational culture built over more than a decade.

Be part of this construction

Estimated investment for this stage: R$ 186,943.99

A living school is born from a living place.

Eleven years ago, Ayni was born from a question:

What if education could be practised in another way?

Not to create a school that is different merely for the sake of being different. But to question what we so often treat as natural, inevitable and normative in education.

To look again at childhood. At the territory. At adults. At spaces. At the way we learn, live together, produce and relate to the world.

Over these years, that question stopped being only an idea. It became practice.

Eleven years of learning in practice.

For ten years, Ayni operated legally as an after-school programme. And it was in that daily life that an educational culture was built.

A culture born of observation, experience, territory and relationships — one that converses with pedagogical, scientific, philosophical, anthropological and social knowledge produced by humanity.

Years of experimentation. Of questions. Of mistakes. Of discoveries. Of listening. Of collective construction.

Until that experience reached a new moment.

Becoming official does not change who we are.

It recognises an experience that already existed. Ayni has officially become an Early Childhood Education school.

And that represents something far greater than a change of paperwork. It means that an educational culture built over years can exist inside a formal school. That it is possible to meet the legal requirements of a school institution without giving up what gives meaning to the educational experience.

Becoming official did not create our practice. It recognised that our practice could exist officially.

Now we want to take one more step.

We are establishing Elementary School — Early Years. This matters because we want to continue this educational experience throughout the children’s journey.

But it also means something larger. We want to strengthen, in practice, the demonstration that a formal school can meet what the law requires and, at the same time, preserve a living educational culture, coherent with its territory and with the people who are part of it.

An education that makes sense for that context. For those people. For those relationships.

The further Ayni goes, the further this possibility can reach.

Perhaps someone is thinking of creating a school. Perhaps a school that already exists is looking for ways to transform its practice. Perhaps an educator is searching for another possibility. Perhaps a community wants to build its own educational space.

Ayni wants to keep being a place that shows, in practice:

It is possible!

It is possible to build a formal school. It is possible to meet the legal requirements. It is possible to preserve a living educational culture. It is possible to build an education coherent with the territory and with the people who belong to it.

We are not starting from zero.

Most of the structure already exists. We have the spaces. We have an educational culture. We have experience. We have a community. We have a history.

But establishing Elementary School requires new structural adaptations, equipment, materials and official permits. And that is where the challenge of this campaign begins.

Now we need to build the structure for this next chapter.

R$ 186,943.99

Estimated investment to establish Elementary School — Early Years. That is approximately US$ 36,656.

Roof maintenance of the ateliersR$ 86,839.80 (~US$ 17,027)

Recovering the roofs of the Uayra and Thimpu ateliers, including materials, waterproofing, fixings and labour.
Rebuilding the Geodesic domeR$ 65,150.75 (~US$ 12,775)

Rebuilding the structure, including timber frame, fixings, roofing and the services set out in the technical estimate.
Waterproofing the hyperadobe buildingsR$ 10,963.44 (~US$ 2,150)

A necessary adaptation to preserve the buildings.
Equipment and furnitureR$ 10,490.00 (~US$ 2,057)

Computer for the office, whiteboards, tables, chairs, rugs and heaters.
Permits, licences and official feesR$ 6,000.00 (~US$ 1,176)

Documentation, licences, technical responsibility records, certificates, administrative fees and other required procedures.
Structural adaptation of the YurtR$ 5,000.00 (~US$ 980)

Physical adaptations needed for the Elementary School classrooms.
Complementary materialsR$ 2,500.00 (~US$ 490)

Electrical and plumbing materials, hardware, fixings, paint, finishes and other supplies.
Teaching collectionDonation

Textbook collections, books, supplementary readers, dictionaries, atlases and pedagogical support materials. Part of the collection may come through donations of materials.

The figures shown are estimates and may change according to updated quotes, the donations received and the needs identified during the process.

We are building far more than walls.

A rebuilt geodesic dome is a structure. A repaired roof is a structure. An adapted classroom is a structure.

But what we want to hold inside those spaces is much greater. We want to hold a possibility.

The possibility that a formal school can practise an education built from life. The possibility that different territories can find their own paths. The possibility that other people will look at Ayni and think:

“If a school like this exists, perhaps we can build ours too.”

Ayni has always been built by many hands.

This place was not born ready. It was built with work, presence, care, knowledge, resources and time generously offered by many people.

Now we have reached a new moment. And once again, we do not want to build alone.

This construction can be yours too!

Perhaps you have never been to Ayni. Perhaps you have known our work for years. Perhaps you are an educator. Perhaps you are a mother or a father. Perhaps you work in education. Perhaps you simply believe that we need to build other possibilities for childhood and for school.

You do not need to be here in person to take part. You can contribute any amount.

You can share this campaign. You can introduce Ayni to someone. You can find another way to participate.

Because this campaign is not only about raising resources. It is about gathering people who believe this possibility deserves to keep existing.

I want to take part

Where does your contribution go?

Every resource raised in this campaign will go towards the adaptations needed to establish Elementary School — Early Years.

The figures are estimates and may change according to updated quotes, the donations received and the needs identified along the way.

We will share the progress of this construction. Ayni also publishes quarterly information about the resources that reach the project on its Transparency Portal.

—raised so far

—still needed to reach the goal

loading… Goal: R$ 186,943.99 (~US$ 36,656)

Contribute

Every contribution receives its own code, so we know who helped build this chapter.

Choose an amount and complete your payment securely through Mercado Pago. You can pay by credit or debit card, including cards issued outside Brazil.

Contribution amount

Your name Your email

Amounts are in Brazilian reais (R$). If your card was issued outside Brazil, your bank will convert the amount. The payment screen is provided by Mercado Pago and is displayed in Portuguese. Cidade Escola Ayni never has access to your card details.

There are many ways to take part.

I want to contribute

You can contribute financially with any amount.

I want to share

You can bring this campaign to other people.

I want to introduce Ayni

You can present this initiative to a company, an organisation or a person who might connect with it.

I want to help in another way

If you can donate materials, services, knowledge or other resources, please get in touch with Ayni.

I want to participate

Frequently asked questions

Why does Ayni need a fundraising campaign?

Ayni does not charge tuition from families. Its sustainability is built through different initiatives and projects. Establishing Elementary School brings new structural, material and administrative investments that need to be made for this new stage.

What will the money be used for?

For structural adaptations, rebuilding and maintaining spaces, equipment, furniture, materials, permits, licences and the other investments set out in the plan.

What is the campaign goal?

The currently estimated investment is R$ 186,943.99, approximately 35,000 US dollars.

Can I contribute any amount?

Yes. Every contribution takes part in this construction.

Can I donate from outside Brazil?

Yes. Mercado Pago accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express cards issued abroad. The amount is charged in Brazilian reais and converted by your card issuer.

Can I help in another way?

Yes. Beyond financial contributions, people, companies and organisations can contribute materials, services, knowledge or other forms of support. Write to futuro@ayni.org.br.

Some possibilities have to be built before they can inspire other people.

For eleven years, Ayni has been cultivating one of them. Now we are building the next chapter: Elementary School.

And we want to do it the way we always have: together.

Build this possibility with Ayni

Any amount is part of this story.
Cidade Escola Ayni · Guaporé, Brazil
Eleven years cultivating another possibility for education.

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