Colloquium Alfa Movement- Student Work and Literacy Brigades: 50 Years

The Alfa Movement was launched in 1976, in accordance with its Manifesto, as a united movement open to all students willing to take up the challenge of strengthening their engagement with local communities through working with and for the people, literacy education and cultural activities.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the Literacy Campaign, held in the summer of 1976 across several districts of Portugal, Universidade Lusófona is organising a colloquium dedicated to the history and impact of the Student Work and Literacy Brigades.

The event draws on the knowledge generated by the research project “Rupture, Popular Power and Emancipation? University Students’ Participation in Literacy Movements (1974–1976)” – ROMPANTE (2024.16621.PEX).

The initiative aims to reflect on literacy practices implemented in the field, based on Paulo Freire's pedagogical theory, revisiting their objectives, outcomes and contributions to popular education.

Programme

The Roundtable Discussion, open to the public, will take place at the Aljube Museum – Resistance and Freedom and will bring together:

• Researchers involved in the ROMPANTE project, conducted at Universidade Lusófona, at CeiED – Interdisciplinary Research Centre for Education and Development;
• Members of the Alfa Movement's Coordination Committee;
• Former student literacy educators who participated in the 1976 Literacy Campaign.

The event will provide an opportunity to revisit memories and share experiences of popular literacy education and its impact on Portuguese society.

Further information coming soon at: ROMPANTE Project Website