História do clube de mães e as origens do atendimento à criança pequena em Naviraí/MS (1974-1990)

Abstract

The so-called Mothers' Clubs appeared in Brazil around 1952 as an initiative of the Brazilian Legion of Assistance (LBA) in partnership with intergovernmental agencies. The clubs aimed at serving women from the poor strata of society by offering counseling to families. It provided care services, hygienic care, medical-pharmaceutical and nutritional assistance, daycare services, childcare and health centers, as well as courses for mothers, promoting minimal training for women at home and counseling their children. This research, carried out in Naviraí – MS, sought to investigate the Mothers’ Club which was as an initiative of wealthy Catholic women. It was implemented in 1974 and operated until 2015. The research’s timeline cut contemplated the period from 1974 to 1990 since it refers to the date the Mothers’ Club was created and the final phase of the child's care in the entity. The research aimed to verify and analyze the history of the Mothers’ Club, seeking to understand the social work carried out with women and families in need, as well as understand the genesis of child care in the municipality from this entity. Thus, the study sought to identify the actions developed with the young children in that period and the professionals who worked with them. The study was conducted based on the documentary methodology and it had access to the personal / institutional collection of this entity. In this way, it was possible to dialogue with written, visual and oral sources. The analyzes were supported by theoretical reference, attempting a proximity to Norbert Elias theories. We verified that the Mothers' Club was a significant entity in the training of women for the informal labor market by offering professional courses (cutting and sewing, hairdressing, manicure, knitting, crochet, etc.). The institution survived for 41 years and from this voluntary and care work to the mothers, they ended up offering care to the young children through the Project Casulo, from 1979 to 1990. Although this action had a palliative intent with limited resources, it can be considered the first initiative which gave rise to public care for children in the genesis of the history of Early Childhood Education in Naviraí - MS. This initiative favored children’s social, preventive and educational demands for a period of 11 years. In addition, the Naviraí Mothers’ Club was an entity in which women started to build a social partnership that created spaces of sociability beyond the domestic environment, allowing pleasant moments of knowledge exchange, personal appreciation and encouragement of their potentialities.