{"id":79093,"date":"2024-08-19T15:54:40","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T18:54:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=79093"},"modified":"2024-09-07T22:10:07","modified_gmt":"2024-09-08T01:10:07","slug":"the-agroecological-providencia-project-empowering-rio-de-janeiros-first-favela-through-agroecology-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=79093","title":{"rendered":"Agroecological Provid\u00eancia: Empowering Brazil’s First Favela Through Agroecology [PROFILE]"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Alessandra<\/a>
Alessandra Roque, a resident of Morro da Provid\u00eancia, is among the founders of the Agroecological Provid\u00eancia project, established to strengthen her community’s sense of belonging. Photo: Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/strong><\/i><\/em><\/i><\/em><\/a><\/h4>\n

This article is part of a\u00a0<\/i>series of profiles of initiatives in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s Sustainable Favela Network<\/a><\/i>.<\/i><\/p>\n

Initiative<\/span>:<\/strong> Agroecological Provid\u00eancia (Provid\u00eancia Agroecol\u00f3gica)
\nContact<\/span>: Facebook<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>Instagram<\/span><\/a> | <\/span>YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/strong> | Email<\/a> | WhatsApp +55 (21) 994659760 (Lorena Portela)<\/span><\/strong>
\nYear Founded<\/span>:<\/strong> 2013
\nCommunity<\/span>:<\/strong> Morro da Provid\u00eancia
\nMission<\/span>:<\/strong> To contribute to the promotion of health, education, and popular and traditional cultural practices through agroecology across the Morro da Provid\u00eancia community.
\nPublic Events<\/span>:<\/strong> Participation in fairs, exhibitions, seminars, and other events, as well as local classes, workshops, discussion circles, collective actions, planting, and a myriad of other green favela practices. Check out their Instagram<\/span><\/a> <\/strong>page for more information.
\nHow to contribute<\/span>:<\/strong> Support Agroecological Provid\u00eancia through donations, volunteering, or participating in project activities. For more information and updates, follow their Instagram page.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

In Brazil\u2019s oldest favela<\/a>, founded in 1897, Morro da Provid\u00eancia<\/a>, a remarkable initiative has been transforming lives and landscapes: Agroecological Provid\u00eancia, founded in 2013 by duo Alessandra Roque and Lorena Portela. A project rooted in agroecology<\/a>, environmental education<\/a>, and community health and well-being, it is coordinated by local women and addresses the pressing issues of food security, environmental sustainability, and social cohesion in an urban area often neglected by public services. The initiative also provides art education to locals, especially children, defining itself as \u201ca school in the making.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Easter<\/a>
Easter and chocolate! Event organized in partnership with @gerandofalcoes and @entreoceueafavela. Photo: Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Agroecological Provid\u00eancia’s Birth and Growth<\/h3>\n

Alessandra Roque, Lorena Portela, and Elisangela Almeida founded Agroecological Provid\u00eancia to strengthen the community’s <\/span>sense of belonging<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in 2013, addressing urban planning challenges linked to the <\/span>Rio 2016 Olympics<\/span><\/a>. The government and real estate developers failed to fulfill their social and environmental commitments to the area, prompting residents to take action.<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, during the Rio Olympics, the Olympic Committee donated 12,000 seeds<\/a> for reforestation<\/a>. Meanwhile, in Provid\u00eancia, two local women took it upon themselves to plant an impressive 14,000 seeds to restore a deforested area of the community, according to Roque.<\/p>\n

Her vision of self-management rooted in ecology is a response to the absence of basic services, such as water<\/a> and electricity<\/a>. Initially, the area where Roque lives was being used as a\u00a0waste dump<\/a>. Gradually, she began to clean up and transform the area into a space for community use, drawing on ancestral technologies<\/a> and life strategies<\/a> from the favela. Since then, alongside Intelligent Garden<\/a>, which was initially led by other women in the community, these projects evolved into what they are today: one organization centered on education and focused on community health, environmental recovery and revitalization through practices that adapt ecological knowledge from indigenous cultures and the African diaspora to the realities of the favelas.<\/p>\n

Lorena Portela<\/a>, who was already involved with Intelligent Garden, has been co-leading Agroecological Provid\u00eancia alongside Roque since the two initiatives merged.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’re an agroecology project focused on education and health. We mainly work with women and children, teaching about <\/span>medicinal<\/span><\/a> and edible plants based on traditional and popular knowledge, which involve health as well as cultural and artistic practices.\u201d \u2014 Lorena Portela<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

\"Agroecological<\/a>
Agroecological Provid\u00eancia mainly works with children and women, teaching about medicinal and edible plants, traditional and popular knowledge, and ecology-based practices. The sign says: “Crystal Room: Space for Healing.” Photo: Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Strengthening Community Through Socio-Environmental Education<\/h3>\n
\"Agroecological<\/a>
Agroecological Provid\u00eancia has developed a range of activities to promote environmental awareness, health, and the valuing of popular and traditional culture. Photo: Social Media<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

In the context of the many vulnerabilities faced in a favela<\/a>, where access to land<\/a>, leisure, and nature<\/a> is often restricted, promoting a connection with the environment and its essential resources for care and nourishment is crucial.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to address the structural challenges and pitfalls of public education… and [also] a widespread disconnect in society [regarding] land and nature, particularly in the urban environment.\u201d \u2014 Lorena Portela<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Thus, the group seeks to address these issues through agroecology, with the goal of expanding educational opportunities. As a result, Agroecological Provid\u00eancia has developed a range of activities aimed at promoting environmental awareness, health, and cultural enrichment. These include:<\/p>\n