Abstract: Freire’s concepts and theories as a strategy to reduce poverty

Getahun Yacob Abraham, Senior Lecturer in Education, Karlstad University, Sweden 

Ane Bergersen, Associate Professor Sociology, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences

The UN Sustainable Development Goals puts as its first goal, “End Extreme Poverty In All Forms By 2030” (UNDP, 2016). This shows poverty is one of the gravest problem in our planet. Most countries in Sub-Saharan Africa are reported as countries with low development index and extreme poverty (UNDP 2018, FAO 2017 & World Bank 2017). This paper will use Paulo Freire´s (1970) concepts “generative themes”, dialogue and transformation to be able to discuss how themes can be raised, discussed and possible actions for change will be proposed. Some preliminary review of literature shows the relevance of universities considering themselves as public goods, including in their policies, their commitment to the development of their societies, giving sufficient attention to local and regional problems and devotion to educating a generation of students with critical thinking and devotion to transform their society. This paper will explore how universities in Southern/Africa could include Freire’s concepts and theories in their research agenda in their search of causes of poverty and possible ways of reducing/eradicating it in their local and regional contexts.