{"id":81834,"date":"2025-10-15T14:46:45","date_gmt":"2025-10-15T17:46:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81834"},"modified":"2026-03-12T09:44:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T12:44:07","slug":"mares-specials-combats-ableism-and-guarantees-rights-to-over-700-atypical-families-in-rio-de-janeiros-largest-favela-complex","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=81834","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Mar\u00e9’s Specials\u2019 Combats Ableism and Guarantees Rights to Over 700 Atypical Families in Rio de Janeiro’s Largest Favela Complex"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Mothers<\/a>
Mothers and children gathered during a Solidarity Wardrobe event. Through donations, health and hygiene supplies, toys and clothing are distributed monthly. Photo: Ramon Vellasco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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

In Complexo da Mar\u00e9<\/a>, a group of 16 favelas with 140,000 residents in Rio de Janeiro’s North Zone<\/a>, the Especiais da Mar\u00e9<\/a> project (Mar\u00e9’s Specials, in free translation) serves over 700 atypical families from across the region. On September 21, Brazilian National Day of Struggle for Persons with Disabilities, RioOnWatch celebrated Especiais da Mar\u00e9, a key initiative that builds ties of belonging and affection<\/a> among Mar\u00e9 residents with disabilities, as well as a much-needed network of support.<\/em><\/p>\n

The story of the Especiais da Mar\u00e9 collective is told by Alusca Cristina Silva Sousa, 33, the project\u2019s manager and the mother of Pedro Henrique, diagnosed with cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy. Sousa lived in Parque Uni\u00e3o<\/a>, one of the favelas that make up Mar\u00e9<\/a>, her entire life. She recently moved to Ilha do Governador<\/a> (Governor’s Island, also in the city’s North Zone), but because of the project and her own story, she can be found in Mar\u00e9 every day, working alongside the other managers.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe project began in 2018 in a WhatsApp group, assisting eight mothers. The idea was encouraged by Luiz Costa, one of Pedro Henrique\u2019s teachers. Since then, we’ve registered so many families that we’ve created two WhatsApp groups. The first group runs from [the] Kelson’s<\/a> [community] to [the] Morro do Timbau<\/a> [favela], and the second from Timbau to Vila do Jo\u00e3o<\/a>.\u201d \u2014 Alusca Cristina Silva Sousa<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Especiais da Mar\u00e9 has developed partnerships with Brazil\u2019s national public health foundation (Fiocruz<\/a>) and the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ<\/a>), offering cooking workshops for mothers through an additional project to promote information about health and nutrition through the culinary arts. Every Monday, atypical motherhood takes center stage through a discussion group held at the Teot\u00f4nio Vilela Municipal School<\/a>, which offers psychotherapeutic support in partnership with the Allos Association<\/a>. In addition, every Monday and Wednesday at 3pm, the children of Especiais da Mar\u00e9 participate in inclusive theater activities at the Mar\u00e9 Museum<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Especiais da Mar\u00e9 project also provides support through two WhatsApp groups with atypical mothers and fathers, and promotes the monthly Solidarity Wardrobe meeting at the Seu Amaro Olympic Village<\/a>, where the managers distribute donated materials to atypical parents.<\/p>\n

The project has continued to evolve since 2018. Sousa says that, “with the growing demand from families and an increase in the project’s activities, we’re considering a new space for the headquarters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe space we now have for our headquarters is my old house. I divided it into two parts: one remains a house, which I put up for rent. The other part became the Especiais da Mar\u00e9 headquarters. We also have a space provided by the late Seu Amaro, in the Seu Amaro Olympic Village, where we run the Solidarity Wardrobe program. One day, our management team was talking about how we wanted to improve the meetings between mothers and needed a space for that. We went to Seu Amaro, who was responsible for and managed the Mar\u00e9 Olympic Village, and he gave us the space to store our donations\u2014clothes, toys, adult diapers, and even wheelchairs. He was a very important person for us because it was thanks to him that we were able to increase our visibility and have another space of care and support for families.\u201d \u2014 Alusca Cristina Silva Sousa<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The project managers\u2014Alusca Cristina Silva Sousa, Lorrayne Gomes dos Santos, Val\u00e9ria Oliveira Viana, Ant\u00f4nia Maria Souza Pirangi, Francisca Juliana Mesquita, and Marcelly Olinto\u2014aim to relocate the headquarters, which is currently in Parque Uni\u00e3o, at Rua Larga, 25. This would expand the structure to accommodate more atypical mothers from Mar\u00e9.<\/p>\n

\"Managers<\/a>
Managers of the Especiais da Mar\u00e9 project. From left to right: Val\u00e9ria Oliveira Viana, Alusca Cristina Silva Sousa, and Francisca Juliana Mesquita. Photo: Ramon Vellasco<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cOur project is mostly made up of single mothers, but we have some fathers and partners who are present and participate in the group. This one here is very involved,\u201d says Sousa, pointing outside the headquarters, where Adilson da Concei\u00e7\u00e3o Santos, an atypical father, is organizing donated materials in the car heading for the Vila do Jo\u00e3o favela.<\/p>\n

The group was formed when these atypical parents identified that they faced common problems in their daily lives, such as a lack of information and support in public health and education services, as well as difficulties with accessibility and mobility. Additionally, they shared the desire to combat prejudice and ableism<\/a>, especially within the favela.<\/p>\n

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Uma publica\u00e7\u00e3o compartilhada por Especiais da Mar\u00e9 (@especiaisdamare)<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n