WHO WE ARE
We are a Civil Society Organization of Public Interest (OSCIP) dedicated to collectively creating the schools of the future! Located in the city of Armação dos Búzios, Kuará is a non-profit educational innovation incubator dedicated to reimagining learning.
Here, we value affection and promote a groundbreaking approach to education. We teach practices in emotional education, developmental science, and self-directed learning methodologies for educators and managers. We also provide support to families in the immense task of educating.
Our after-school activities are true cognitive adventures for children, centered on the joy of learning and the development of essential life skills.
8 REASONS TO REIMAGINE
EDUCATION?
If you probably used very little of the endless content you memorized to pass school exams and now remember almost nothing, you are not alone! Most children do not like to study and perform poorly in their studies.
Why we believe it's urgent to reinvent schools:
We are failing on a large scale: More than 70% of children finish 13 years of schooling without minimum proficiency in math and Portuguese, revealing that education focused on memorization does not lead to real learning!
The world of work has changed: Careers are transforming, and 50% of today's jobs are at risk of extinction, with new careers emerging. Most of today’s children will have jobs that haven't been created yet. We need to stop preparing children for the next test and start preparing them for an unpredictable future. It's vital to 'learn to learn' and develop skills to adapt, such as flexibility, creativity, empathy, collaboration, and the ability to solve complex problems—qualities that rote learning does not effectively promote.
Personalized Learning: Each student has their own learning style and pace, and standardized education does not adequately address these individual differences. We need education that celebrates diversity! Personalized and adaptable approaches are necessary to maximize each student's potential and ensure true inclusion.
Educational Inequalities: Education as a path to social transformation needs to go far beyond standardized tests. What's the point of preparing all children for exams, when 81% will not pursue higher education (only 19.3% of Brazilians attend university). The sad truth: many graduates are unemployed or working in positions below their qualifications or outside their field. If we want to promote social ascent, we need to focus on individual strengths and talents and offer training that prepares children for various professional scenarios, not just higher/technical education.
Deficiencies in Measuring Success: Standardized tests often fail to capture the comprehensive set of skills and knowledge students possess. We need more holistic methods to assess and encourage student progress in all areas, including social and emotional skills.
Student Mental Health and Well-being: Depression, suicide, and anxiety in children are currently public health issues. Six million children suffer from clinical depression, and 14 young people commit suicide every day in Brazil. It's crucial to place happiness at the center of the learning process! This means implementing practices that care for mental health, rethinking the pressure for test results, adopting more inclusive and welcoming methodologies (that value individuality and promote the joy of learning), boosting self-esteem, and making children feel embraced and motivated.
Project and Experience-Based Learning: Studies show that students retain knowledge better and develop practical skills through real learning experiences, as opposed to methods focusing solely on theory. Children need experiential education that prepares them for real-life contexts—not just exams.
Sustainability and Environmental Awareness: Given the urgency of the climate crisis, it's essential that education promotes environmental awareness and action, integrating respect for sustainability across all areas of learning.
Reimagining education is crucial to creating a system truly capable of preparing future adults for a world that values adaptability, social awareness, and continuous learning, not just the ability to pass tests.
Education should be a journey of self-discovery, not a standardized content production line.
our founder
Hello! I am Paloma Heringer, creator and founder of Kuará. I hold a master's degree in Education, Policy, and International Development from the University of Bristol (UK) and I am a researcher in the fields of democratic education, emotional education, experiential and disruptive learning.
I am the mother of Noah (from whom I learn every day!), friend of the Science for Education Network and a member of the Living and Conscious Education Network, which works in South America reinventing schools.
I am also part of the Chevening Global Changemakers and Leadership Network and was a facilitator for the Schools in Transition training project (Eco Habitare) in Rio de Janeiro, led by Portuguese educator José Pacheco.
I enjoy broadening my perspective on education beyond traditional pedagogy. That's why I blend various knowledges, wisdom, and experiences into my work. I have a post-graduate degree in futurism and new economies, which expands my vision of education, schools, and the professions of the future. I also hold a post-graduate degree in International Communication from Syracuse University (NY) and a bachelor's degree in Communication from the Rio de Janeiro State University.4 PRO MAXPRO MAX
CONTACT us
Schedule a visit!
Would you like to visit our space and understand our teaching approach better? Come visit Kuará! We welcome school groups to play in our yard, as well as educators, families, and education administrators.
Visits are scheduled in advance and provide an opportunity to explore our yard and ask questions about our pedagogy. 😊
