Education is a powerful force for empowerment. It frees learners from submission, helplessness and poverty by equipping them with the tools to understand their reality, advocate for their rights and shape their future. In this sense, education is not only about knowledge – it is about freedom: the freedom to choose, to act and to protect oneself.

This transformative power of education is clearly visible in the experience of the Sem Terra communities in Brazil. Having been dispossessed of their land, these communities have been engaged for decades in a daily struggle to have their rights recognized through long-overdue agrarian reform. In this fragile context, education has played a pivotal role – not only in supporting individual empowerment, but in strengthening collective resilience and community organization.

Across southern Brazil, many farming families continue to live in conditions of poverty, while large portions of land remain concentrated in the hands of a few landowners, often descendants of colonial structures. Faced with these inequalities, Sem Terra communities have built strong networks of solidarity, where learning, mutual support and collective action become essential tools for survival and resistance.

Recognizing the importance of education as a driver of resilience and community building, and aligning with EAEA’s 2026 annual theme, we have decided to support the cause of Raízes Sem Terra and its documentary, which sheds light on these realities and amplifies the voices of the communities involved.

We are pleased to invite you to the screening of the documentary followed by a debate on 5 May, from 18:00 to 20:00 at the European Parliament. The event will bring together different perspectives in a joint debate featuring EAEA Secretary General Raffaela Kihrer, MEP Cristina Guarda and the team behind Raízes Documentário.

Spots are limited, so make sure to grab your seat by registering through the Registration form.

This event aims not only to raise awareness, but also to reflect on the role of education in fostering resilient communities, strengthening democratic participation and supporting the defense of fundamental rights – in Brazil and beyond.

For more information about the documentary and the crowdfunding, visit the GoFundMe website.