Message-ID: <199510200500.DAA06590@rjo04.embratel.net.br> Date: Fri, 20 Oct 1995 03:00:01 -0200 From: Joaquim Moura <mailto:poa-bsb@CR-DF.RNP.BR> Subject: Brasilia e-news #25 To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear Friends,THE FOOD SECURITY PROGRAM IN SANTA MARIA
Last Wednesday I went to a meeting with the people of the Work Cooperative of Popular Entrepreneurs of Santa Maria. It was the first meeting to evaluate the applications for the microloans (lending the money earned with the sale of the" "food basic basket" for the 366 poorest families living in a poor sector (pilot) of Santa Maria. As you know, for two years, these families will monthly buy their basic food by 40% of its commercial price and this money will be lent to the local entrepreneurs (current and new).
The government plans to reach more 2,500 poor families with this program until the next December, and then reach the poorest thousands of the other satellite cities around Brasilia in the next three years. And lend a lot of money to a lot popular entrepreneurs, organized in co-operatives, and creating a lot of jobs, revenue and pride.
Next week there will be the second sale of food baskets and again more than US$ 5,000 will be available to be lent.
Yesterday, in that first delivering meeting, the first loan application was approved, to a group formed by 7 women and 3 men. Their project is to produce and sell cleaning products as disinfectant liquid soap, liquid wax, pasty wax etc.
They will sell to the local schools, churches, homes etc. They are very animated. They will borrow US$1,000, and repay in two months - more 8% (interest rate 4% per month).
This first group had already tried to borrow the money in a former meeting (the former week). But then they were not sure to answer the questions that the Loan Committee made to them. So they came again with more information and clearer purposes. Their loan was approved.
Other issue: as you know, each poor beneficiary family (allowed to buy the food baskets) shall give 5 hours weekly to perform community works (defined by them, in their meetings). They have been cleaning the local schools and nurseries, starting a beautiful community garden, and - planned for the next Saturday - to help to take away all the garbage spread around their houses. (The government will send the public cleaning team, with their trucks and sweepers, but the community must participate to clean all that dirt they are used to spread around.)
The problem is that some people - expected to "pay" their community work hours helping to remove all that trash - are afraid to be considered - by their neighbors - as some kind of fools or imbeciles. This confirms that we need bring a cultural discussion about citizenship and community mobilization among these people. Since the beginning of this program (the planning has started in February) I am suggesting this cultural initiative - including through the young students, in the schools), but the higher coordination was not aware of this "peripheral" issues. (now they are becoming). Let's see what will happen next Saturday, but from then on we will think about a way to deepen the discussion among them about what is to be a fool, or to be community committed leader, etc... I am planning to help them to publish a newsletter to bring to the community some issues to think about.
Please, we have a chance to work together in this interesting project. Brazil is a very complex defy for our developmental skills, but I think it is worthwhile, if we consider the importance of Brazil to the world ecology, and to the humanity socio-cultural future. As you know, I will be in Washington next month to meet people and agencies wishing to upgrade their knowledge about the Brazilian social and environmental defies and opportunities.
Thank you, Joaquim
______________________________________________________________ Joaquim Moura (all the controversial opinions are just personal) Youth & Citizenship Development Commission Partners of the Americas - Brasilia / Washington DC Committee SHCGN 713 - Bloco I - Apt. 202 - 70760-739 - Brazil Phone (55 61): 414-1904 (w); 273-5613 (h); 414-1898 (fax)