Lifelong Learning Programs and Community Empowerment in Adult Education Centers in Santa Catarina

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between lifelong learning programs and community empowerment in adult education centers across Santa Catarina, Brazil. Through a mixed-methods approach involving surveys of 285 adult learners and qualitative case studies of six education centers, this research explores how participation in lifelong learning initiatives influences individual empowerment and broader community development. Findings reveal that adult education programs significantly enhance participants' economic opportunities, civic engagement, social capital, and personal agency. The study identifies four key mechanisms through which lifelong learning fosters empowerment: skills development for economic participation, cultivation of critical consciousness, expansion of social networks, and strengthening of collective efficacy. Qualitative data illuminate how culturally responsive program design, supportive learning environments, and integration with community development initiatives amplify empowerment outcomes. Challenges include funding constraints, accessibility barriers for marginalized populations, and tensions between instrumentalist and transformative educational philosophies. This research contributes to understanding adult education's role in promoting social justice and community development in Latin American contexts, offering insights for policy and practice aimed at leveraging education as a tool for sustainable empowerment.