By Diane Pereira Sousa
Baixada Maranhense is a region north of Maranhão. An important territory for the state's development structures. Anyone born or living in this region is called Baixadeiro. This identity recognition began in 2003, with a movement called CIP Jovem Cidadão, an integrated set of projects developed by Formacao – Basic Education Support Center in 10 cities (Arari, Cajari, Penalva, Matinha, Olinda Nova, São João Batista, São Vicente Ferrer, São Bento, Palmeirândia, Peri Mirim).
The Baixada Maranhense Community Foundation was born from the CIP Jovem Cidadão. After 10 years of intense work in that region, a group of Baixadeiros met to discuss what the region's next years would be like, at that moment there was an understanding, we cannot go back, we need to continue warming up the daily life of Baixada Maranhense with art, sport, communication , agroecology, supporting ideas and projects, democratizing access, building social justice.
One of the Community Foundation's first strategies was to create a campaign called `Whoever has love for Baixada is an Ambassador`. In other words, everyone who supported the development of that region was considered an Ambassador. AMBASSADEIRO was a Baixadeiro Ambassador. Two ways of contributing to the territory were designed. The first Volunteer Ambassador were people who supported us with skills, for example, a marketing specialist, a legal consultant, a teacher. The second Donor Ambassador, were the people who supported financially, made a donation of a certain amount.
In 2022, with support from the Philanthropy Network for Social Justice, we are transforming this strategy into a methodology. Now the Ambassador has a new element, the Baixada Produtiva. It is through this that we map people who have ideas, projects and businesses with high potential, and connect the Donor Ambassador and Volunteer to them. For the territory to develop, it is necessary to invest in people.
Today Baixada Maranhense is full of Baixadeiros Ambassadors, Jailson Mendes in São João Batista, Francilda Fonseca in São Vicente de Ferrer, Samara Volpony in Arari, Roselia Oliveira in São Bento.
Regina Cabral and I often say that when we think about Community Philanthropy we see a river and everything that moves from it. People fish, plant, sail. Those who live near Rio know what needs to be done so that fishing, planting and navigation are productive.
Community Philanthropy happens when the canoe that is being used is no longer sufficient and for this it is necessary to think about several other canoes that contribute towards sustainability and good living. In several canoes, more people, with different profiles and with different dreams, can fish, so that more can be fed. Canoes in hammocks are better than boats with a single driver. They generate income at scale and inclusive development.
The community knows what needs to be done, it has creativity, strategies and connection in its daily life, but to reach the other side of the river with more people, the connected canoes of philanthropy are needed.
I also like to think about the sea. The sea that connects all continents. The sea reaches the river and the river goes to the sea. The sea represents the great depths. In the river are community funds. Part of it comes from the sea. When I step into sea water, I feel connected to those who stepped into the same water that moves there, far away. And the most beautiful thing, the other person and I joined forces to help the canoes on the rivers.
He coordinated the book “Can you hear my Voice?”. He wrote and coordinated the booklet “Human Rights and Student Protagonism” by Flacso. She is co-author of the book “About Our Grandmothers – memory, resistance and ancestry”. He wrote and coordinated the Educational Sports manuals for citizenship and social development. He wrote and coordinated the Futebol 3 systematization for children. He wrote and coordinated the book Futebol 3 – History of the use of this methodology in Brazil.
