What began as a shared snack at women's gatherings in the Jequitinhonha Valley (MG) has become the foundation for structural change. Since 2023, residents of 11 rural communities have been meeting monthly with the desire to achieve autonomy and share knowledge and experiences.
Mirante, Ribeirão Veredinha, Ribeirão das Posses, Pindaíba, Boiada I, Boiada II, Gameleira, Monte Alegre, Caquente, Pontezinha, Vendinhas, and Macaúbas have become closer thanks to women's gatherings that broke down barriers and built bridges. Maria Aparecida Guimarães, from the quilombola community of Macaúbas, in the municipality of Veredinha, has participated in the women's group since the beginning of the meetings, which currently has more than 90 participants. "Today, arriving at the group and seeing so many women is a great joy," she says.
Prior to the women's group, the Association of Women Farmers of Córrego da Lagoa and Beira do Fanado (ASMAFA) was also created in the Gentio community. Founded in 2015 with only 12 women, the association now has more than 105 participants who meet periodically to reach even greater heights.
More than just brick walls, the headquarters houses courses in sewing, beekeeping, and the sharing of family farming techniques. Social technologies, such as cisterns and small dams, are being used to mitigate water scarcity, which has been greatly affected by eucalyptus cultivation in the region.The creation of the association enabled income generation, gatherings that broke rural isolation, and strengthened the community's identity.
Another great achievement was obtaining the certificate of recognition as a quilombola community, the first in the municipality of Turmalina to achieve this title. For Salete Maciel, vice-president of ASMAFA, the completion of their own headquarters, where decisions are made collectively, is the realization of a dream. “Our goal is to unite. Here everyone is respected, speaks, and listens,” she affirms.
The inauguration of ASMAFA's headquarters and the possibility of women's group meetings are actions within a cycle of projects funded by the ISPN Ecos Fund and implemented in partnership with the Vicente Nica Alternative Agriculture Center (CAV).
These projects are part of the Seventh Operational Phase of the Small Grants Programme in Brazil (SGP) and are part of ISPN's strategy for Promoting Productive Eco-social Landscapes, supported by resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Through this project, 22 Cerrado conservation initiatives were selected, 10 of which are in the Upper Jequitinhonha Valley, in Minas Gerais.
Over the past 30 years, the Ecos Fund has implemented more than a thousand projects, reaching the participation of approximately 77 women. "This project is very important to us; it has strengthened the Association and the community," emphasized Dona Salete.
Beyond household chores: occupying spaces and strengthening the network of women.
Historically, the patriarchal structure has confined women to the private sphere. Neltinha Oliveira, coordinator of the Veredinha Family Agricultural School (EFAV), emphasizes that the greatest challenge has been to encourage these women to occupy decision-making positions. She stated that, due to the overload of tasks and domestic chores, many of them were unable to participate in political and educational spaces. Many are also mothers and include their children in the recreational activities of the meetings. Even with the resistance of some husbands, they have not stopped participating.
Beyond the challenges, Neltinha added that the meetings were crucial in this transformation, opening doors for listening, sharing, and learning. "By engaging, they realized the importance of this space for creating bonds and strengthening themselves," she points out.
This strengthening is reflected in mental health, self-care, and well-being. Tereza dos Santos, from the Monte Alegre Community, Veredinha, reports that the meetings, which also have the support of psychologists, make "life lighter." The shared snack is not just food; it's an exchange of flavors, knowledge, and realities. She also emphasizes how the meetings and listening among the women are relevant to this transformation. "The group has brought great development to the communities. We have all become friends, like a family," said Tereza.
On these occasions, women also discuss their rights, ways to reclaim their ancestry, value their territory, agroecological practices, the use of medicinal plants, participation in regional fairs, discussion groups, and workshops on accessing credit.
Living tradition, culture and identity
One of the most exciting milestones of the project in Chapada das Veredas is the cultural revival. The Roda da Gamela, a tradition that was being lost over time, has started spinning again. Through the group, the women have revived the dance and songs passed down through generations, now involving young people and children as well.
“The group of women took us away from the hearth, took us to other communities, and rescued the Roda da Gamela,” said Maria Aparecida, celebrating this reunion with her roots. She recalled dancing in the community where she was born. She explained that, in addition to singing songs, people go to the center of the circle, climb onto the wooden bowl, and recite verses.
Tereza Silva, from the Gameleira community in Veredinha, remembers this tradition from the time of her grandparents and great-grandparents. "Now, people are recovering what had been forgotten. The 'gamela' dance was a very important thing that we brought back," she said.
EFAV's school secretary, Margarete Alves, emphasizes that this transmission of cultural heritage to younger generations ensures that the identity of Chapada das Veredas remains alive. "It is fundamental to transmit our culture, our essence, and our roots to our young people to keep our history alive," she argued.
The project's impact is visible in the creation of networks, the strengthening of partnerships, and, above all, in the sparkle in the eyes of each family and quilombola farmer who recognizes herself as part of something bigger. “The seed has already been planted and many fruits have already been harvested. I could see the increase in the women's self-esteem in these meetings, their sense of belonging, and their willingness to be cared for,” celebrated Margarete.
Isolation gave way to networking; silence gave way to the song of the Gamela. "They left their homes, connected, exchanged experiences, strengthened themselves as a group, and have been doing wonderful work in our community," she concluded.
On this March 8th, as we celebrate International Women's Day, the trajectory of the women of Chapada das Veredas reaffirms a fundamental truth: organized women's collectives are strategic for well-being, for territorial sovereignty, and for community strengthening.
By transforming the wheel into resistance and the meeting into a space for decision-making, they show that development with socio-environmental justice is built with female leadership. May the stories of these women serve as an example and inspiration—and may more communities recognize and invest in the collective strength of women as a path to a more supportive, sustainable future full of vibrant roots.