Promundo holds listening workshops with quilombola communities in the states of Pernambuco and Maranhão
The project aims to understand the realities of the community and develop improvements in the areas of health and education, especially in working with masculinities and fatherhood
Promundo, in partnership and articulation with health bodies and others focused on the black population of the government of the state of Maranhão, held a listening workshop with quilombola communities in the region on the 12th, 13th and 14th of April. The communities of Samucangaua, Iririzal and Peroba, in the municipality of Alcântara, received the Promundo team to understand the reality of the communities regarding the health of this population, especially the health of quilombola men and boys.
Prior to this meeting, still in April, Promundo had also visited quilombola communities in Pernambuco, with the same purpose. On the occasion, in partnership with the Black Population Health Coordination and Men's Health Coordination, it developed listening workshops with the communities of Castainho – in the rural region of Pernambuco – and Conceição das Crioulas and Santana – in the backlands of Pernambuco, between the 8th and April 10th.
The project involves the theme of masculinity and fatherhood. and, in connection with these main themes, based on the information shared, it was also possible to identify elements that will assist in an analysis of gender relations and how they impact the health care of these men and this population as a whole. The workshops were held with adult and elderly men and women and with adolescent and young boys and girls.
The initiative opens up the possibility for this population to receive attention from public policies and, in addition, will also help in the construction of material that will support the Ministry of Health in the area of men's health in quilombola communities.
Below are some records of the meetings:
Images of the quilombola communities of Castainho, Conceição das Crioulas and Santana, in Pernambuco.
Photos of the quilombola communities of Samucangaua, Iririzal and Peroba, in Maranhão.
Learning from communities
Promundo's contact with quilombola communities was carried out based on a premise of care and respect for their cultures. Listening to them was an initiative to recognize their autonomy and an opportunity to learn from their views on masculinity, fatherhood, gender relations, health, education and care.
Regarding the experiences in both states, we highlight some points. Communities have an intense sense of collectivity and politics, emphasizing the importance of each person in building this collective. Several of them are organized and led by women and children are the responsibility of caring for all adults living in the community. These collective social bonds and the way these people exercise them also generate an equitable space for speech and expression. Another strong element in identities is the issue of territoriality and sociocultural belonging, which also make up the idea of raciality.
The communities live mainly from agriculture, fishing and construction. An important point observed was their geographical distance in relation to the centers and also between them, which reveals traces of the process of historical resistance and the need to protect their ways of life.
The project is ongoing and other actions with the quilombola population are planned, to understand what their needs are, what distances them from access to health, care and education and to think about strategies to bring them closer to them, respecting their context and culture. Continue accessing our social networks and website to follow the developments of this learning with the quilombolas and the results developed from this experience. We continue working for a more inclusive society that represents its diversity!
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