Full article: Silver Anniversary: ​​Dakila nucleus in Rio Grande do Norte celebrates 25 years in Serra Caiada

By Letícia Eduarda Field activities, community integration, and visits to research sites marked the celebration of the Potiguar group.

From August 15th to 17th, Serra Caiada hosted the 6th Dakila Center Meeting in Rio Grande do Norte, celebrating the group's 25th anniversary. Known by members as a "mini-field activity," the program brought together around 50 people from various Northeastern states, such as Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Ceará, and Bahia, as well as representatives from the capital and the interior.

The Rio Grande do Norte center began to form in 1999, following a lecture by the president of Dakila Research, Urandir Fernandes de Oliveira, in Natal, which sparked the interest of Fernando Aires, one of the center's current representatives. "My mother invited me to attend the lecture. From then on, I became involved in the project's research and activities, and we began organizing study groups in Rio Grande do Norte," Fernando recounted.

Initially, the group operated as a study group, with meetings and lectures in various cities in the interior of Paraíba, Pernambuco, and the state of Rio Grande do Norte itself. In 2009, the group was officially established, becoming the first group in the Northeast region, with the participation of people from neighboring states, and strengthening its operations.

The municipality of Serra Caiada became the base for the group's activities in 2004, when a suitable location for meetings and field research was identified. The farm, provided by the local community, became the main location for meetings, practical exercises, and integration activities for the group.

The program began on Friday with a dinner in downtown Serra Caiada, followed by an official opening lecture at the farm. Over the three days, participants explored the mountain range, visited points of interest, participated in integration activities, and conducted field research.

Saturday was dedicated to field activities. After breakfast, participants climbed the mountains to explore its natural attractions, visiting the Wasp Cave, the Magic Stone, a replica of the stone located at Dakila's headquarters, and the Pyramid, built on the site as a women's base for visits and studies. In the afternoon, the group gathered at the municipal sports park, complete with a soccer field, volleyball court, skate park, leisure area, and playground, where a lively soccer match with MDPL took place, followed by a collective picnic coordinated by the event organizers. The evening featured more field and research activities, as well as a convivial atmosphere with music, coffee, and conversation circles on the farm.

On Sunday, participants visited the Pé de Serra subdivision, where some members purchased land near the mountains, offering the possibility of expanding the group's activities there.

Over the past 25 years, the Dakila Center in Rio Grande do Norte has conducted field research and strengthened ties of integration in the region. One of the highlights during the celebration was the support of the Serra Caiada community, which has been essential for the meetings. According to Fernando Aires, this collaboration is the result of bonds built throughout history: "We always count on the support of the people of Serra Caiada when we need it. These are bonds we have formed over time, and the support of some local leaders has been important for our activities," he explained.

It was a moment of celebration: the silver anniversary represents not only the commemoration of a journey, but also the strengthening of ties between the participants, the community, and the projects to come.