Os impactos da pandemia de covid-19 nas experiências sociais e na educação de crianças que vivem em territórios de alta vulnerabilidade na região metropolitana de Belo Horizonte

Abstract

This dissertation aims to understand the social isolation experience imposed by the pandemic on children aged 8 to 12 years in Belo Horizonte and its metropolitan region, living in highly vulnerable areas. The data for this study come from the research project “Childhood in Times of Pandemic", conducted in 2020 to examine how children aged 8 to 12 experienced the covid-19 pandemic in Belo Horizonte and its metropolitan area. The research was carried out through an electronic questionnaire, available from June 11 to July 15, 2020, and received 2,021 valid responses. In the second phase of the study, 33 individual virtual interviews were conducted. This dissertation, therefore, deepens the analysis of the 2020 database, focusing specifically on children residing in highly vulnerable territories. Within this context, 222 questionnaire responses and 14 interviews were analyzed. The process of listening to children is grounded in the perspective of Childhood Studies, which recognizes children’s agency and their active role in transforming social reality. The research findings highlight that the pandemic exacerbated inequalities, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and Black children due to the suspension of school and the implementation of online classes. It also had negative impacts on emotional well-being, intensified by concerns and fears regarding food security and the risk of infection. However, despite the adversities imposed by the pandemic and persistent inequalities, children demonstrated a plurality of experiences, strengths, and resilience in facing the crisis. Additionally, families played a crucial role by mobilizing efforts to ensure continued access to education, providing emotional support, adapting daily routines, and creating opportunities for leisure. Thus, children's experiences reveal resilience, solidarity, and an active role in society. By recognizing their agency and considering their perspectives, we broaden our understanding of their realities in relation to social, racial, and economic factors, breaking stigmas and promoting a more comprehensive view of childhood in vulnerable contexts.