On 30 September, after a four-year hiatus, CESE resumed its traditional Solidary Feijoada, a milestone in the Spring for Life Campaign. Over a day full of great music from Robherval and Ito Araújo, good food and much joy, more than 250 people visited CESE’s offices. The event was planned within CESE’s calendar of activities and its 50th anniversary celebrations.
As well as the traditional feijoada bean stew, the programme also included: a solidarity fair of products made by grassroots organizations supported by CESE and the churches; a Caritas bizarre, selling clothes and accessories at affordable prices; live music and a raffle. The fair was attended by the following people organizations: the Small-scale Farmers’ Movement (Movimento dos Pequenos Agricultores: MPA), fishermen and women, and female shellfish pickers from Maré Island; the Black Women’s Network of Bahia (Rede de Mulheres Negras da Bahia); the Itapagipe United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil: IPU/Itapagipe); the Rev.Valério Silva United Presbyterian Church of Brazil; the Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: IEAB); and the Trinidade Church Community.
CESE has hosted a Solidarity Feijoada for many years and work continues throughout spring! All the proceeds from the fair and from donations go to support projects through the organization’s grant funding.
Sônia Mota, CESE’s Executive Director, noted that this campaign, which has been held annually for 23 years, doesn’t only focus on fundraising. “We also open up a space so that churches, grassroots movements and partner organizations can come together in a collective action for good. For 50 years, our work has only been possible through support and partnership from the people who embrace our cause and understand that by supporting CESE they are supporting grassroots movements and their fights for rights.”
CESE received donations from members of its Friends Network, institutional board, service providers, team and volunteers to fund the day:
CESE suppliers
Copyart
Raiprint
Gráfica JB LTDA
Rodrigo Viellas
Anderson Santana
ZWA Digital
STIB Soluções em Tradução, Interpretação, Transcrição
Plus Viagens
Fernandez SC LTDA
SB Travel
Atacadão do Condomínio
Hotel Sol Victoria Marina
Consultants
Adriano Martins
Aurélio Viana
Helda Oliveira
Michelle Prazeres (Desacelera Institute)
Churches and partner organizations:
Rev.Valério Silva United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil: IPU)
Itapagipe United Presbyterian Church of Brazil (Igreja Presbiteriana Unida do Brasil: IPU)
Archdiocesan Social Action (Ação Social Arquidiocesana: ASA)
Anglican Episcopal Church of Brazil (Igreja Episcopal Anglicana do Brasil: IEAB)
Trindade community
Black Women’s Network of Bahia (Rede de Mulheres Negras da Bahia)
Caritas Brazil NE3 (Cáritas Brasileira NE3)
Small-scale Farmers’ Movement (Movimento dos Pequenos Agricultores: MPA)
Movement of Fishermen and Women from Maré Island (Movimento de Pescadores e Pescadoras da Ilha de Maré)
Individuals
José Alberto
Antônia Ataíde
Bianca Daébs
Ester Borges
Antônio Gabriel
Carmen Hermida
Vanessa Pugliese
Vanyse Lobo
Participating in the event, Girlaine Gomes, from the Rev. Valério Silva United Presbyterian Church of Brazil, recalled that the church’s community centre received funding for a project. “It was a cut-and-sew initiative that lasted for 18 years and benefited about a thousand men and women who came through our community centre. The Spring for Life Campaign gets more important by the year, reaching more beneficiaries through small projects. We need more people to support this campaign.”
Edivagno Rios, from the Small-scale Farmers’ Movement, noted that the solidarity activity was a really positive moment. “Raising funds to support other collective initiatives, which can help to improve the quality of life for socially vulnerable groups. And the cultural aspect of the event with music, food, the great feijoada, conversation among friends, strengthening links between organizations, entities and movements, subjects and activists.”
This year the theme of the Spring for Life Campaign was ‘Sowing good seeds, watering hope – “Peace is the fruit of justice”’ (Isaiah 32:17), alluding to the organization’s 50-year history.
There’s still time to donate to the campaign: https://doeagora.cese.org.br/confirmar-doacao (in Portuguese).
Check out some photos of the event:
Watch the campaign launch here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6v4BGZKK1U&t=25s (in Portuguese)
Download the campaign publication here:
https://www.cese.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/CAMPANHA-PRIMAVERA-PARA-A-VIDA-2023.pdf (in Portuguese)