Play, learn, grow: what makes ‘Piapi’ a unique experience for young children in São Paulo

The Purpose

To ensure that public policies address the needs of children younger than six years of age. In 2017, the City of São Paulo committed to support early childhood policies, which were enshrined in municipal law. This commitment included the guarantee of human rights from birth, encompassing the right to life, community life, health, food, education, leisure, culture, dignity, freedom and respect. It also outlined the mutual accountability of the state, civil society, and children’s families to ensure their protection.

The Challenge

However, despite these commitments, the COVID-19 pandemic presented a particular challenge for early childhood education and support. The closure of schools and community facilities removed many of the sites of contact between young children, their caregivers and municipal programs. Before 2016, there was no robust national or regional legislation for public policies addressing the needs of children up to the age of six or supporting their caregivers.

PIAPI aims to promote development and a meaningful artistic experience for young children and explores themes such as belonging, gender, mental health and race.

The Solution

In 2018, the City of São Paulo launched the PIAPI, managed by the Cultural Formation Department of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture, in close partnership with the arts education coordination sector, cultural venue managers, and hired artistic educators. This program is free of charge and consists of workshops held for children aged 0-6 with an accompanying parent or guardian. Scheduled in venues throughout the city, the program aims to promote early childhood development, fostering an interest in culture through artistic activities, and play between groups of children, their guardians, and artistic educators.

For the 2020 edition of the PIAPI, the City quickly adapted to respond to the challenging COVID-19 context. The program took place in a hybrid format with two stages of intensive in-person and extensive remote training. The program also reached the nine peripheral areas of the city through the network of Unified Educational Centres (CEUs). The training was organised in self-managed spaces in local areas, utilising resources from the Training Team of the Municipal Secretariat of Culture. This enabled the PIAPI to focus on areas of higher socioeconomic vulnerability and reach twice the number of young children while mobility across the city was still challenging.

The Impact

The structure of activities encourages playfulness and coexistence among groups of young children. It has successfully reached communities who may otherwise not have had access to cultural programs. It also presents an opportunity to connect with parents and caregivers, many of whom may experience socioeconomic vulnerability. The PIAPI aims not only to promote development and a meaningful artistic experience for young children, but also a trans-disciplinary experience that engages children with key ideas and themes such as belonging, gender, mental health and race, as well as building skills through cultural learning.

Source: World Cities Culture Report 2022

Images Courtesy © Getty/Canva