"Parana 12 meses" Project in a Context of Sustainable Rural Development

In the context of public policy against rural poverty through community strengthening, this paper analyzes the action of the "Parana 12 meses" (Parana 12 months) project in the municipality of Sao Jeronimo da Serra, state of Parana, Brazil. Carrying out the program according to the principles of university extension, in a joint action of faculty, student, & community, the researcher lived with one of the beneficiary families while interviewing 70% of the participants. The survey showed that the project still in action has already transformed the productive substructure & the community organization by stimulating collective labor & strengthening local association. However, the community is still dependent on external agents to execute their activities, thus showing the necessity of actions to promote the citizenship in rural development projects. To make public policy more consistent & productive, & particularly to develop local potentialities, the projects should take into account political, social, economic, environmental, technological, & educational aspects. 3 Tables, 11 References. Adapted from the source document.