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Rede Ecológica: Holding hands against Coronavirus and food insecurity rio de janeiro, brazil

PROJECT OVERVIEW: Rede Ecológica (Ecological Network) is a social movement that promotes ethical and ecological food consumption through a network of consumers and small agro-ecological and/or organic farmers. Consumers buy organic food and other products at affordable prices while local producers have access to a reliable market. Rede Ecológica is a self-managed organization coordinated by consumers. In its almost 20 years of existence, Rede Ecológica has developed activities that have empowered producers and raised awareness of ecological practices based on the "3 Rs" principles: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, encouraging members and producers in actions that develop and increase environmental education in everyday practices, especially if related to food sustainability.

In response to the COVID-19 crisis, Rede Ecológica has developed a campaign to distribute organic fresh products to people suffering from food insecurity. Nowadays, about 1.4 million people live in slums or precarious settlements in the city of Rio de Janeiro. As a consequence of the pandemic and confinement, many no longer work. Hunger is prevalent, so families need support. The Rede Ecologica campaign seeks to ensure that families suffering from food insecurity can access healthy food. At the same time, Rede Ecological and its community partners are supporting ecological and sustainable practices of urban agriculture and food education through events and activities. This initiative is the result of a strong collaborative partnership between the Rede Ecólogica and local leaderships in the communities. Besides receiving donations from Brazil, the campaign is supported by international partners (Association of the Friends of Rede Ecológica) in Switzerland (Bem Vindo NGO), France (Amar), and Germany (association in progress), which help the Rede Ecológica to raise funds to the project.

CATEGORY: Civil Society SETTING: Urban / Rural STATUS: On-going

BY: Rede Ecológica

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Rede Ecológica is a group of around 200 families in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro and neighboring cities. These families manage the project in small groups, playing an active role in maintaining the network, and making decisions on a variety of issues. Volunteers are important to the functioning of Rede Ecologica. Some organize the purchase and delivery of products, activities which take place in spaces lent by public and private institutions; others are engaged in creating cooking experiences and new recipes and others in the integration of the network with other social movements. Other groups take care of finances, members recruiting, assessing producers, and organizing events and group visits to producers.

PARTNERS: Rede Ecologica works closely with a number of Institutes, organizations, and NGOs. For example, BEM VINDO is a Swiss NGO dedicated to raising funds and awareness of Rede Ecológica's food donation campaign. The AMAR Foundation is a French association with strong ties in Brazil, supports public education, and offers training with agro-ecologists. At home Rede Ecologica liaises with:

AS-PTA Agricultura Familiar e Agroecologia works on alternative farming methods and the development of urban farming in Rio de Janeiro; Instituto Casa Anitcha, a collaborative institute that promotes peace, and links to the global Transition Town; Fundação Angélica Goulart is dedicated to the rights of children; CEM – Centro de Integração na Serra da Misericórdia addresses the protection of green space in the Complexo do Alemão slum; also focuses on urban farming, and the engagement of local women and children; Programa Social: Sim, Eu Sou do Meio helps children in need in the Belford Roxo Neighborhood and the metropolitan area of Rio de Janeiro; Rua Solidária assists homeless families; CAC has a focus on environmental education; Assentamento Oswaldo de Oliveira: MST (Landless Movement) A work camp that runs a project on sustainable development. Articulação Popular das Vargens is a popular organization that defends green areas and the “right to the city”. It works against forced removals in a neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, currently threatened by gentrification.

You can also be part of our campaign! If you are interested in helping, please access www.redeecologicario.org to become a friend of Rede Ecológica.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

inforede.ecologica@gmail.com

WEBSITE

http://redeecologicario.org/

YouTube - Rede Ecológica

REPRESENTED IN THIS PROJECT