The Root Philanthropy Seminar takes place

By Glaucia Rodrigues

On September 21st, the Root Philanthropy Seminar here at Instituto Procomum. The event was our contribution to the “Month of Philanthropy that Transforms” a movement promoted by Common Network dedicated to debating, making visible and promoting the practices of Community Philanthropy and Socio-Environmental Justice and demonstrating their contribution to social transformation, access to rights and strengthening civil society and democracy.

See seminar page

Rede Comuá is a space that brings together 16 institutions that are divided between thematic funds, community foundations and independent donor organizations (grantmakers), which mobilize resources from diverse sources to support groups, collectives, movements and civil society organizations that work in the fields of socio-environmental justice, human rights and community development.

Discussing the role of philanthropy as an instrument of transformation and reducing inequalities when practiced by communities was the objective of the “Raiz Philanthropy Seminar: The Strength of the Communities That Do It”. The event began with a maculelê workshop promoted by the AfroKetu group and continued with the tables. Throughout the event, it was possible to see the collaborative fair held by exhibitors Luciana da Cruz, Luciana Ledezma, Jane Helena, Sandra Helena, writers Panda and Julie Lua, Coletivo Donnas da Rua and the brand Pano da Terra.

“THE NETWORK IS PROMOTING, TOGETHER WITH MEMBER AND PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THE MONTH OF PHILANTHROPY THAT TRANSFORMS. IT IS A MONTH IN WHICH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS ARE PROMOTING EVENTS TO PROMOTE SPACE TO FOSTER DEBATES, DISCUSSIONS AND PROVIDE PRACTICES OF COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY AND SOCIO-ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE. THE BRAZILIAN PHILANTHROPIC ECOSYSTEM HAS A BREAK OF EVENTS IN THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER, SO THE MONTH IS DEDICATED TO SOCIAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL PHILANTHROPY TO ACHIEVE THAT MORE RESOURCES ARE DESTINED TO THESE PHILANTHROPIES” MÔNICA RIBEIRO – REDE COMUÁ

The event filled our Multipurpose Galpão with exchanges and reflections driven by the themes that guided the tables: “What understandings exist about philanthropy? What do we understand by philanthropy carried out by territories and their communities?” It is “Philanthropy, territory and good living – How does philanthropy carried out in the territory produce good life? What understandings of philanthropy emerge or can emerge when we think from the lens of the common and good living?”. The tables were composed of names active in the philanthropy of our network such as Mônica Ribeiro (Rede Comuá), Roberta Ribeiro (GT Mulheres Grande Guerreiras), Paola Lima (Casa Fluminense), Sandra Silva (Thousand Currents), Ronaldo Eli (Sítio das Matas), Natasha Gabriel (Instituto ELOS) and Taynara Dias (Instituto Chegados).

During the conversations, the issue of bureaucratization of access to resources came to the fore. Ronaldo Eli brought to the table the experience of terreiros on this journey, giving a lesson on how incoherent it is to demand from people who live in these territories methods that are so far removed from their way of living.

“IT WAS IMPORTANT TO BE IN CONTACT WITH OTHER GROUPS THAT HAVE A SIMILAR PERFORMANCE TO US IN DIFFERENT ASPECTS DUE TO DIFFERENT QUESTIONS THAT WE HAVE THAT ARE NOT ONLY OURS, IT IS NOT ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH BUREAUCRACY, WITH THE READING THAT PHILANTHROPIC ENTITIES HAVE, MAINLY WITH RESPECT TO ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLECTIVES THAT START FROM OTHER CIVILIZATIONAL PRINCIPLES AS IS OUR CASE. I LEAVE HERE THINKING THAT WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO BELIEVES THAT PHILANTHROPY NEEDS TO BE CHALLENGED TO TRANSFORM TO MEET US WITHIN WHAT WE ARE AND DO” RONALDO ELI – SÍTIO DAS MATAS

Another high point was raised by Dener Xavier (Instituto Chegados) who in his speech and actions within his territory questions the position of subalternity to which black people have been subjected throughout post-colonial history. For him, this part of the population needs to get involved in obtaining the means of production instead of continuing to “ask” big funds. To this, Sandra Silva (Thousand Currents) states that when we request resources, we are demanding equality and rights that have been usurped from us.

Among other points, the debates raised by those present brought to light the need to strengthen and legitimize philanthropy in favor of what is already carried out by the communities themselves and the continued lack of financial transfer in emergency situations.

“DESPITE WE ARE IN DIFFERENT TERRITORIES, OUR PROBLEMS ARE THE SAME. THERE ARE MANY ORGANIZATIONS AND COLLECTIVES THAT SUFFER WITH THE ISSUE OF PHILANTHROPY BEING CONCENTRATED TOWARDS A SPECIFIC GROUPS OF PEOPLE AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT COMMUNITY PHILANTHROPY, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHERE THE MONEY GOES AND WHY THAT MONEY SHOULD BE GOING TO PEOPLE WHO THEY PRODUCE IN THEIR OWN TERRITORIES AND NOT FOR BIG NAMES BECAUSE IN REALITY, IN REALITY WE ARE THE ONE WHO DOES IT…” PAOLA LIMA – CASA FLUMINENSE.