REDEH > Projects and Initiatives

Adapta Sertao

Adapta Sertao is a climate change development project that provides adaptation strategies for farmers living in the semi-arid municipality of Pintadas. The Adapta Sertao coalition facilitates and provides farmers with clean technologies for irrigation which are highly more efficient than traditional farming practices. Adapta Sertao also trains farmers in how to apply and use the innovative and sustainable technologies in addition to identifying markets and mobilizing financial capital.  The project  also strengthens the farmers cooperative and promotes the inclusion of women and youth in the productive management of local resources. Adapta Sertao  has received the 2008 SEED Award for its community-lead approach to water efficient crop irrigation. The project is active within four municipalities of Bahia: Paintadas, Quixabeira and  Brumado.

More information: www.adaptasertao.net

500 Anos Mulheres atrás dos Panos, 500 Years of Women behind the Cloth

"500 Years of Women behind the Cloth" was a research project launched by REDEH in 1997. The project broke ground breaking silence around the feminine body and characteristics throughout the history of Brazilian women. Since then, Women’s500 Years Behind the Clothhas produced several publications on the challenges and triumphs of Brazilian women including features as seen within Women's Dictionary of Brazil, Editora Zahar, 2000 and Black Women of Brazil and, SENAC Publishing- this contribution won the Jabuti Award in 2008.

Currently, Women’s500 Years Behind the Cloth is developing a survey of women’s participation within politics. After the material is collected and reviewed, it will be published through an illustrated biographical dictionary, highlighting images and texts of influential Brazilian women.

On the website, www.mulher500.org.br you'll find a collection of research and material which showcases aspects of gender, race and ethnicity, in order to show the trajectories of women within Brazil’s history. There, you will find a host of biographies, pictures, articles, and various other literature.

The Julio Otoni Community

The Julio Otoni community is a small shanty town within Rio de Janeiro and located in the Santa Teresa neighborhood. The Julio Otoni project first started in 2006 where REDEH bought a house and named it the Julio Otoni Community Centre, creating partnerships with members inside and outside the community in order to provide opportunities and alternate activities for after-school children and youth who would potentially be involved in gangs and drug trafficking.  Activities include tutoring, English classes, environmental and human rights education and IT. The community generally caters to 50 young people throughout the year and there are times when activities and classes are held within the studio space craft of Women of Santa.

More information : www.juliootoni.wordpress.com

Non-Discriminatory Education

The Non-discriminatory education project is based on the Platform of Action which was adopted in China at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 where governments committed to advance and invest in universal education that promotes equality between men and women, races and ethnicities.  The Curriculum National, prepared by the MEC, was incorporated for its cross-cutting topics on ethics, cultural plurality, the environment, health, sexual orientation and labor and consumer affairs.

Non-discriminatory education projects include perspectives of gender, race / ethnicity, and environmental, especially for teachers committed to refined and enhanced education for youth and adults.

Such education projects provide rich methodological material on different subjects and training for teachers who are selected by the Regional Center or the Municipal Education Department of the chosen city in accordance with the partnerships as established with REDEH. The course, lasting 120 hours (a requirement of MEC) consists of three modules, conducted over 03 weeks - one a month - with a duration of 08 hours daily.

Essential elements within the training process are the teaching materials itself. The material is divided into 4 kits and cover topics including literacy, citizenship and gender, race and ethnicity, sexual orientation and education for a healthy planet. Each kit consists of a manual, cassette tapes and a videotape. The material is then distributed to the participants of the course and also different schools within the city.

Hip Hop for Social Justice

Hip Hop is a form of cultural expression that has expanded across Brazil since the 1980s. Many hip hop groups are committed to social change and thus, have given rise in mobilizing and creating awareness around different social change issues. Hip hop groups encourage positive change within their communities and advocate collaborative action in the pursuit of equality and harmonious human development. Hip Hop for Social Justice condemns social exclusion, violence and conflict.

Brazilian hip hop was influenced by local culture and through a large population of young people living within the outskirts of the larger cities. This art form has increasingly become a popular activity across Brazil as many of the dance movements are a reflection of the experiences of young people. Comprised of four elements, hip hop includes - rap (music), break (dance), DJ and graphite (art).

REDEH recognized the transformative and important role of hip hop as a cultural expression and since 2003, has developed projects with hip hop groups from various and disadvantaged groups of society.

The hip hop groups were so successful in promoting social change that the Minas da Rima project was developed from the fruits of the previous successes. In partnership with UNIFEM, a group of 30 men raised attention on issues surrounding domestic violence, racial discrimination and social inequality.  

The project Men’s Hip Hop and Violence against Women has focused on raising awareness around violence against women through the hip hop culture.

The Baixada Fluminense group brought attention to the realities of violence against women and encouraged both genders to disengage in such violence by recording a CD that will be released and available on their website below. REDEH works with a group of 15 local men in the ongoing struggle of violence against women, racial discrimination and social inequality.

More information: www.hiphopsemviolencia.org.br