This article is part of RioOnWatch‘s series on Memories of Favela Power, which documents and celebrates the history of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas through narratives and reports from residents’ collective memory, in their daily struggle to lead fulfilling lives.
Quintal das Josefinas (The Josefinas’ Backyard) is a space created to welcome women in Rio de Janeiro’s West Zone neighborhood of Campo Grande, facilitated by the As Josefinas Institute. It can best be described through two key pillars: aquilombamento—the act of taking a counter-hegemonic stance in creating a safe, welcoming spaces for Black and marginalized groups—and aldeamento, which refers to the act of “villaging,” or bringing together indigenous peoples. These two concepts have been central to shaping this welcoming space for women in Campo Grande.
Resisting the obstacles that stood in her way, Aira Nascimento founded the As Josefinas Institute, which she describes as an urban quilombo, a village, and an expansive backyard that has been transforming the lives of the women who gather there. To honor the legacy of her maternal grandmother, Dona Josefa Silva Nascimento, Nascimento explains that she needed to embark on this journey to reconnect with her ancestrality and uncover her history.
“The [institute’s] name is a variation of Dona Josefa’s. The idea first came to me during this journey of understanding my history as a Black woman and as someone of Potiguara indigenous descent. Phenotypically speaking, there’s no hiding this Black woman with indigenous features and Brazilian Northeastern origins, a resident of Rio de Janeiro, living here in the West Zone. I’ve lived here in the West Zone for decades—over thirty years. I’ve experienced life here on the periphery, here in the West Zone, for 43 years. And our history as Black women, as Black people, and as indigenous peoples has been systematically erased. We are only now beginning to learn the History that history itself has refused to tell us.
I experienced structural racism firsthand, but I didn’t know what to call it at the time. In 2016, when I became pregnant with my son and my grandmother passed away, that’s when I felt a deep return to my ancestrality.” — Aira Nascimento
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As soon as you step into the As Josefinas Institute, you are greeted with a sense of warmth and welcome. The house, with its spacious front porch adorned with various plants, feels reminiscent of the classic homes of Rio’s outskirts. Inside, modernity and tradition blend seamlessly, creating an atmosphere where the past, present, and future coexist in harmony. One room houses a computer lab with modern equipment, while another holds a sewing workshop featuring vintage sewing machines, evoking memories of the iconic seamstresses who once played an essential role in neighborhood streets, and the alleys and lanes of favelas.
Among the decorations are a wooden bookcase filled with a variety of books and adorned with trinkets, crafts, and picture frames; and a sofa covered in vibrant chita fabric—a colorful cotton material—matching the curtains. Frames decorate every wall, and for that special retro touch, there’s a beautiful china cabinet brimming with antique crockery in one of the rooms. It brings back sweet memories of a childhood and adolescence spent at grandma’s house, where the china cabinet was one of those heirloom pieces, passed down through generations. It was always the piece most carefully tended by the lady of the house. Its mirrored back, once reflecting girls mimicking the dancers on TV, dreaming of one day becoming just like them. It’s a true journey back in time, evoking reflections on life’s changes—abrupt or subtle—that we only truly notice when standing once again before the mirrored back of the china cabinet.
After exploring the inside of the house, we head to the Quintal das Josefinas, a yard that mirrors the same blending of modernity and tradition as inside. The walls are adorned with more potted plants, crafts, and frames. There are two tables, one of them quite large, boasting rectangular benches reminiscent of the days when big families would sit together for meals or celebrations. It is at this large table that everyone gathers for classes and festivities, like one big family.
In a true gathering of women, they leave their daily worries outside the door to enjoy moments of tranquility and ease together. A large group of women sits around the table, carefree, even if only for a few hours.
To kick off our discussion circle, we begin with each participant introducing themselves. Some are talkative and spontaneous, others speak only a little, and a few don’t speak at all, but observe, carefully listening to every word as if it is a lesson on female self-expression. They are living up to their right to speak—free from infamous male interruptions—and their right to remain silent, without the obligation to voice an opinion.
We cover themes such as social positioning, feminism, and ageism, among others. When asked how the As Josefinas Institute has impacted their lives, participants unanimously share that it has transformed them as women. They express feeling this transformation deeply, especially as Black, Afro-Indigenous women from Rio’s peripheries. They also highlight the sense of belonging they experience, describing how meetings foster mutual encouragement, and how the house itself provides a nurturing space. A true support network.
“I came here for a financial education course. I didn’t know the Institute, had never even heard of the house… It was my daughter who suggested it to me. And from the moment I stepped foot here, I was captivated by this place, fell in love with it, and I haven’t stopped coming back since. I’ve been following them closely on social media… and I came to learn a bit about the girls’ ‘yard of affection.’ I told Catia that I’d love to teach embroidery, that I was available if she needed me, and she did. Since then, I’ve been here learning so much too. But the main thing is that this house, as a women’s collective, has helped me immensely in my professional life as well. I have a sewing studio, and I’ve been an entrepreneur for 20 years. I see opportunities opening up for us and how important it is to have the support of other women from peripheral areas with similar backgrounds. You identify with them, and that connection is such a treasure to be a part of. It’s a kind of support they might not even realize they’re giving.” — Josy
Supporting women, standing by and uplifting one another, the group breaks the stigma that women compete among themselves and aren’t united. Between embroidery or macramé [a manual knot-weaving technique] stitches, the women take part in the discussion circle, listening to each other’s life stories. As the Josefinas describe them, these weekly discussion circles are true “chat therapy” sessions. It’s a space where they heal their pain, unwind, step away from their daily routines, and recognize not only each other’s potential but their own as well.
“I had no idea I could create such beautiful, wonderful things! Here I am, today, embroidering these beauties! I’m so moved! It was here that I found out I could do all this!” — Elizete
Many shared that, even on days when they don’t have classes, they still go just to catch up with their friends, have a coffee together, and share snacks they’ve prepared and brought along. They said this space feels truly therapeutic, and they leave feeling renewed.
When discussing ageism, the Josefinas women reflected on their own thoughts about it and whether they had ever experienced or even perpetuated ageism themselves. Those who had experienced it shared their stories and how they responded to it.
“Where I used to work, I was the oldest. That’s just how it goes: everyone thinks they know more than you, that we’re past our prime, that we can’t keep up. But then, when a problem comes up, our experience suddenly matters. Still, for the most part, people are quick to dismiss us, to ignore us.” — Clarice Silva Costa
One student shared that, after returning from a year-long leave of absence due to health issues, her coworkers dismissed her presence at the company’s end-of-year party. They couldn’t believe she drank and danced and were surprised to see how much fun she was having at the event. She said she felt offended by their attitude.
“When young people do that, it’s one thing, but the worst is when older people say: ‘You go to the same places as your son?’ as if I were some little old lady who just sits at home. But that’s not me. I go through this kind of thing in a lot of places… I’ll be turning 68 soon, but I really don’t care… my son tells me: ‘Do they pay your bills? Then go ahead and wear the shorts you want, wear whatever you like, and just go.’ He’s always the first to encourage me.” — Maria Aparecida da Silva (Cida)
Ageism was a theme that sparked many discussions. Some had experienced it but hadn’t identified it as such. And even those who hadn’t experienced it wanted to share their views.
“We start to realize everything we go through… but ageism is not something we see happen here [in the yard]. Preta is our director and she’s very young—she’s in her twenties… but I don’t feel that here. Of course, I experience ageism outside, but not here.” — Josy
For the women at As Josefinas Institute, age is just a detail.
“I forget my age when I get here… I study with people much younger than me, and I say: ‘If I’m older, then you have to respect me as an older person. I’ll speak whenever I feel like it.’ Even my supervisor has to listen to me. If they treat me as an older person, then they have to respect me as one. I should be seen as a figure of respect—I am older. I actually like to say: ‘I’m an old Black woman.’” — Carla Nascimento
Other topics, such as machismo, sexism, and misogyny, were also widely discussed in the circle.
“These are things that need to change, but unfortunately, change is slow because it’s not just external—it’s internal, it’s within the family. It starts when we’re being raised, and you realize that change needs to happen there too, including when it comes to sexism. Sexism exists, but there are also women who perpetuate it. They complain about it, but then they act in a sexist way with their daughters, husbands, and sons. They raise their sons to repeat the very behaviors they themselves don’t like. ‘Because he’s my son’… and then comes that idea that he must be served, that he’s my little boy, that everything should be done for him. And later on, he reinforces that with his wife… It’s a very sad reality, but one that we are slowly changing. Sometimes you take a lifetime to wake up, and it feels so good when you finally do. At 61, I’m getting a divorce. When you wake up, there’s no age, no ageism, no machismo, no sexism—because when you do, life takes a whole new direction.” — Verônica Fernandes da Costa Amorim
Preta, one of the Institute’s directors, says the backyard is a safe space, where there is no room for prejudice. Everyone is welcomed and embraced in the same way.
“A few weeks ago, one of our students experienced religious intolerance, and the directors called everyone together. No names were mentioned, but we made it clear that we stand against this kind of behavior. Our house is ecumenical—when you come here, you can pray, you can worship, you’ll find a little saint by the door, and you’ll also find an orixá in the same space, and that’s perfectly fine. This is a safe space, and because it is, there is no room for aggression here. And they all know it—everyone who walks in here feels good, embraced, accepted, because we simply don’t allow for anything else.” — Fernanda (Preta Poeta)
So many lessons, so much learning—far beyond embroidery, macramé, writing, or entrepreneurship classes, the Quintal das Josefinas transforms not only the lives of those who are learning but also those who are teaching, as the Institute’s own educators share.
“I didn’t even realize it… I work Monday to Friday, and sometimes even on Saturdays, but Wednesdays are therapeutic for me—I need this time with them. And over time, they started telling me how much it was helping them too. When I first started, it was something that made me feel good… but this exchange is so valuable. They show me how important it is to be here… it’s important for them, and it’s just as important for me.” — Catia
A nurturing exchange between women, filled with sisterhood and empathy, one can put oneself in another’s shoes and be more than just a shoulder to lean on, in every moment, at the Quintal das Josefinas. And if there is any competitiveness between women, it stays outside the circle—far from the doors of the As Josefinas Institute. In Aira Nascimento’s words, the Quintal is a place of healing. A place where a gathering starts around the table, with a delicious meal, and ends with a delightful orange cake or sweet Brazilian cuscuz filled with affection and poetry.
Aira Nascimento embarked on a journey to reconnect with her ancestrality, drawing inspiration from her grandmother, Dona Josefa. Armed with this legacy, she went on to inspire other women.
“It’s about realizing that we have stories to tell, that we have memories… Realizing that the public system tried to judge us based on mobility, that machismo tried to confine us to a maid’s room or the kitchen of the home—the one who serves everyone but has no story. Bringing these memories of the home, these stories from the yard, means bringing forth each woman’s story. Above all, it’s about placing women at the center of their own lives. At the center of themselves. When we truly know ourselves, we become a force. A force for ourselves and for the world… We are not erased beings. I am not erased in a maid’s room, I am not erased by structural racism, I am not erased by the machismo in my own home that cast me solely as the family’s caretaker. I am not erased by the State, which pretends not to see me. I have a story to tell.” — Aira Nascimento
About the author: Carla Regina Aguiar dos Santos was born and raised in Morro do Turano. Her work as a community journalist has always prioritized the day-to-day happenings in the favelas. Reporting what goes on beyond the view of traditional media, she has contributed to the Favela News Agency (ANF), A Pública, Eu, Rio! and Terra. She received the ANF Award for journalism in the culture category and the Neuza Maria Award for Journalism.