Youth and education in the rural area of São Lourenço do Sul/RS/Brazil

Abstract

The study was conducted in the rural area of São Lourenço do Sul, RS, Brazil,
bringing reflections over youth, rural exodus and the role of agroecology in this context. Thirtysix
questionnaires were applied and were related with property acquisition, family composition,
age, labor and scholarity of family members. 78% of properties were acquired by inheritance.
Family labor was present in all cases, with the average of 3,11 family workers/property. Property
owners averaged 50,4 years old; 75% of them still count with at least one successor in the
property, which averaged 21,52 years old. 58% of property owners did not completed middle
school; 45,45% of their successors completed high school. There is a perspective of at least
one more family generation in family properties, but rural exodus dynamics should be still
carefully accompanied.