PAulo Freire turned to the woman and said: “Anita, do you know that in Campinas they built a popular library in the favela and put my name on it?” Accustomed to the titles and honors received in intellectual circles, the educator revealed a different satisfaction in knowing that the honor now came from the periphery, towards whom his critical-liberating pedagogy had always been aimed. What he didn't know was that the initiative, led by a Unicamp employee, would cross the city's borders, becoming a model for other municipalities and states.

Ardent fan of Paulo Freire, technician performs IV Seminar about educator

The domestic conversation, reported by Anita herself, took place in 1995, a year after Francisco Genézio Lima de Mesquita, administrative technician at the Institute of Arts, opened the “Paulo Freire” Popular Library. The unit, which was created in the living room of his house, in Jardim Santa Rosa, on the outskirts of Campinas, has already expanded to seven other neighborhoods in the city and is about to open in Hortolândia, with support from the local city hall. Buoyed by the success of the idea, on the 17th, at the University's Convention Center, he will hold the IV Paulo Freire Seminar, which will include a round table to address the Pernambuco educator's ideas.

Genézio has already lost count of the lectures he gave to talk about the popular library. Only last year he was in Belém, Manaus, Natal and Recife. Since 1994, when he opened the first unit, he has been leading and promoting a movement that has already made around 10 thousand books available to residents of the outskirts. “When I started, no one gave anything for the project.” At the time, Jardim Santa Rosa was one of the most violent neighborhoods in the city. The approximately 700 families lived daily with high rates of crime, school dropout and drugs. “I thought a library could help educate children and change this situation.”

Mortadella – Genézio inaugurated the library on October 12, 1994. “It was intentional, because the idea was aimed at children”. Washed down with gooseberry juice and bread with mortadella, the party was a success. It was the first time that residents, even adults, had seen a library. In the 12 square meters that delimited the living room of his house, Genézio organized 280 books on wooden shelves that he assembled himself. The volumes, all donated by Unicamp students and teachers, would forever change the lives of countless young people in the community.

Soon after the inauguration, Genézio felt the need to inform Paulo Freire that he had used his name to name the library. In fact, it was an excuse to meet the educator, of whom he had become an unconditional fan. The opportunity arose from a meeting with professor Moacir Gadoti, biographer of the educator from Pernambuco, who had come to Unicamp to participate in a master's committee. “He liked the idea of ​​the library and gave me Paulo Freire’s phone number.”

Genézio wasted no time. He called the same day. When he heard the educator on the other end of the line he didn't know what to say. “Professor Paulo Freire, this is Genézio”. And Freire: “What Genézio?” The answer was long. Genézio started talking about the library he had opened in Jardim Santa Rosa. He talked about the interest of the residents, the joy of the children, the opening party, the problems in the neighborhood, the violence, his expectations. In the end, he asked for a meeting with Freire. “We need to formalize your authorization for the name of the library.” To Genézio's surprise, the educator agreed.

The date - On the agreed day and time, Genézio pressed the doorbell at Freire's house in the Sumaré neighborhood, in São Paulo. “It was the most memorable experience of my life.” Ten years later, he still remembers all the details. “He was wearing white pants and a red shirt, in the room there were a lot of indigenous objects and on the balcony there was a little yellow bird in a cage.” Genézio photographed everything. And he was impressed by the educator’s patience. “He wasn’t one to talk much; he liked to listen”.

Freire listened a lot. But Genézio wanted more. He asked him to come to Campinas to give a talk. “Genézio, my son, my life is very busy.” The visitor didn’t give up: “No problem, professor, schedule it for when you can.” Freire consulted his diary and scheduled it for six months from now. Back in Campinas, Genézio went straight to the office of the then municipal secretary of education, Ezequiel Theodoro da Silva. “Secretary, I managed to bring Paulo Freire to Campinas”. Ezequiel doubted: “You, Genézio?” He maintained his pose: “Yes, I was at his house a little while ago and he assured me he was coming. I want you to help me with posters, folders and the Castro Mendes theater.”

Ezequiel decided to support. The event was scheduled, publicity was made, but a week before Freire called Genézio and told him he couldn't come. Health problems. It was the beginning of the illness that would lead to his death a year later, in May 1997. Ezequiel froze, he wanted to cancel the event, but Genézio wouldn't budge. He invited Moacir Gadoti to replace the educator. On the appointed day, 600 people filled Castro Mendes. The meeting was a success.

The robbery – However, things did not always work out for Genézio. Once they entered the library and stole around 200 books. “When I saw the broken door and the empty shelves, I was stunned.” Worse for thieves. Genézio could put up with anything, unless his library was disturbed. Knowing the community, he went straight to the house of a resident whose reputation in the neighborhood was not the best. “I know you stole my books, I want everything back today or I’m going to the police.” The resident laughed in Genézio's face. He went to the police.

At the police station, Genézio was short and blunt: “Deputy, my books were stolen and I know who the thieves are, I want you to go and arrest them.” In a matter of minutes Genézio was in the van taking the police to the suspicious house. Upon arriving, the police surprised four men with bad looks. They tried to escape but were detained. Inside the house, several objects were stolen, including Genézio's books. Minutes later they were all back at the library, where they never left again, except to spread culture among the residents of Jardim Santa Rosa.