50+ Project of the Social Service of Commerce:

Case report of Environmental Education actions in Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

Driven by the exponential growth in the aging population due to improved living standards, the Serviço Social do Comércio (Sesc) has developed the Faculdade 50+ project, which provides a space for activities that formalize knowledge and are aligned with the UN's SDGs. The project includes the participation of partner universities through university extension programs. Within this context, PROSA, the university extension program of the University of Pernambuco, which aims to promote environmental awareness actions through lectures and workshops, has contributed to the Sesc 50+ project by providing information aimed at including the elderly in emerging environmental issues at both global and local levels. This paper reports on the experience of Environmental Education (EE) actions with elderly groups concerning plastic pollution on the planet, shark incidents in the state of Pernambuco, and safe beach bathing. Lectures and workshops were conducted in 2023 and 2024, using a semi-structured script with 47 students from the attended classes to assess knowledge about shark incidents and measures that ensure safe bathing. It was concluded that the elderly have prior knowledge about plastic disposal; some avoid its use while others reuse it. Regarding shark incidents, many avoid these beaches and, when they go, opt for bathing at low tide. As for safe bathing measures, they use identification bracelets on children and keep them in the sand beach.