Bona Espero, Rural school and Esperanto community in Alto Paraíso de Goiás, Brazil

Bona Espero is a farm-school on the Chapada dos Veadeiros plateau, 250 km north of Brasília near Alto Paraíso. Its pioneer house by the Mulungu river, repaired from ruins, served as home, school, dining hall and kitchen for nearly 30 years; a workshop was added in 1989 and the current school and dining building in 2005. An artificial dammed lake supplies running water, pumped by a sheep-driven pump.

Six Brazilian Esperanto speakers founded Bona Espero in 1957 to provide education and support for children from low-income families. The project grew from a desire to offer disadvantaged children educational opportunities.

The school combines Portuguese with Esperanto instruction, creating a multilingual learning space. Visitors can observe how this uncommon language pairing shapes the daily rhythm of education here.

The farm operations provide food for the community while teaching students sustainable cultivation methods. Visitors should expect basic conditions and wear sturdy shoes for walking across the property.

The center has taught hundreds of children to read, and several of its former students are now teachers in neighboring communities. This passing forward of knowledge shows the long-term impact of the work done here.