Da enxada à lousa: a trajetória de João Benno Wendling na comunidade de Walachai (1943 – 1996)

Abstract

This final paper aims to cover the life of João Benno Wendling inside the community of Walachai, located in the countryside of Rio Grande do Sul. The objective was to analyze João Benno's actions based on primary sources, such as autobiographies, writings and documentation, which he recorded and preserved throughout his life. Attention was given to various positions that João Benno occupied within the community, such as teacher, catechist and others in the religious sphere, as well as secretary of the Sociedade União Popular (also known as Volksverein), and leader of the Frente Agrária Gaúcha from Walachai. To make it possible to explore João Benno's actions within the community, the concept of intellectual mediator, developed by Angela de Castro Gomes and Patricia Santos Hansen (2016), was used. In this way, it was analyzed how João Benno Wendling's actions influenced the progress of the community's culture, from the most diverse aspects.