What we do

FOOD DISTRIBUTION + LECTURE

Mão do Bem meets up fortnightly and provides food handouts on a monthly basis to families and individuals in Rocinha. This is all made possible thanks to the work of a core team of international and local volunteers, and generous donors.

Our food distribution events take place monthly together with a lecture by visiting experts in the area of physical and mental health. For a year we were handing out both organic food baskets and basic food baskets, though currently due to economic constraints we alternate between the two.

What is a Cesta Basica?

Cesta basica means a basic food basket, and our food baskets, actually a thick plastic bag, come with a number of staple foods, cleaning products and sanitary pads. Each basket we provide consists of 2 kg of rice, 2 kg of beans, ½ kg of flour, ½ kg of pasta, 1 bottle of cooking oil, 1 packet of sanitary pads, 1 bottle of disinfection, 1 soap and a packet of biscuits.

What is a Cesta Organica?

Cesta Organica means organic food basket, and contains a mix of organically grown fruits and vegetables. We have since the start sourced our organic food baskets from local farmers in Rio, Valença, and Petropolis. The content changes with what is in season, though it always contains some root vegetables such as cassava, sweet potato and yam. They also contain greens such as kale, spinach, coriander, mint and a variety of fruits such as bananas, oranges or avocado. We spend R100 = $10 US dollars on each organic fruit basket, which we feel is a great investment in the health of our members.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

With each handout we provide a class, workshop or talk. Our community-based education program teaches useful and practical skills such as;

how to plant food at home
start a compost system using recycled materials
general recycling
how to cook with jackfruit, a fruit which is abundant in the local area.
fundamentals of how to start your own business and mentorship in the area of gastronomic.
Rights and duties of favela habitants.

CONVERSATION CIRCLE

We also meet monthly for a coffee evening and conversation circle with an invited inspirational guest. Previous guests include; Adam Newman the founder of the NGO Favela Inc, Pia Sundhage the previous Brazilian head coach for the national women’s team in football, Flavio Hertz the founder of restaurant chain La Carioca, Sheila Lima, psychologist born and raised in Rocinha and Selem Rufino Soares trans woman and actress of the documentary “Diga meu nome” about her fight, and victory to legally change her first name to female, to mention a few. These evenings provide an opportunity for the Mão do Bem members to ask questions and interact with the guests in a conversational setting.

Our coffee evenings and education programs take place in the Rocinha Community School, which teaches English and Spanish to the community. We support each others work, and when the opportunities arise, invite their students to our events.

MONTHLY SOCIAL GATHERINGS

Finally, we also arrange monthly social events visiting parks and projects in Rio, providing a fun and educational day for the whole family. We are aware that there are many invisible barriers in this city, and we use these gatherings to introduce places many times unknown to the group and their families, such as parks in the area, local environmental projects and museums. It is an opportunity for the group and volunteers to interact in an informal setting. It provides a foundation for the bonds we are building among the group, to do fun and educational activities together. Even excursions in the local area such as a visit to nearby parks and the sea, are things that many of our members rarely do. Organizing these social outings are important for us to come together socially, and to encourage our group members to explore the surroundings for themselves and with their children. Enjoying a day out from the favela with the whole family can provide both mental and physical benefits.

Find us on:

What we do

FOOD DISTRIBUTION + LECTURE

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

CONVERSATION CIRCLE

MONTHLY SOCIAL GATHERINGS

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