Objetivos e público alvo
The main goal is to ensure the comprehensive security and well-being of leaders, especially fisherwomen and young quilombolas*, who act in the defense of the territory and the community’s rights. To that end, self-care workshops will be realized to raise awareness on the importance of physical and mental well-being, as well as self-defense workshops to train leaders to deal with threats, and trainings on environmental protection to strengthen the defense of the land and of natural resources. Moreover, the project aims to strengthen the organization’s institutional structure, with the hiring of an accountant to regularize the financial management and ensure transparency in accountability. Safe passages will be funded so that leaders participate in denouncement spaces, trainings, and exchanges with other communities, expanding their networks of support and trading of experiences.
*Traditional communities descended from runaway enslaved people.
Contexto
The quilombola and fishing community of Graciosa faces constant threats, such as land invasions, violence from businessmen, structural racism, and the invisibility of fisherwomen. Leaders, especially women, suffer direct threats, including armed invasions and intimidations. The project seeks to structure a security plan, to promote selfcare, and to strengthen the community articulation to tackle these violences.
Sobre a Organização
The Quilombola Fishermen and Women’s Association of Graciosa waswas founded in 2011 to defend the community’s land and rights against predatory tourism and the expelling of families. It acts in the preservation of quilombola culture, of small-scale fishing, and of family agriculture, promoting actions of education, healthcare, and security. Led by Black women, the organization seeks to revitalize ancestral knowledges and strengthen the community’s identity.
