With the goal of strengthening women’s leadership in the Amazonian socio-biodiversity production chain, SOS Amazônia held a workshop on June 5 and 6 as part of the Mulheres Coletoras de Sementes project in the Rio Branco community, located in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve. The initiative is supported by the Whole Foods Market Foundation and brought together 15 women for qualification focused on financial management, marketing, customer relations, and social rights.
The training was led by consultants Marilda Brasileiro Rios and Jaqueline Rocha from Master Ideias, a company specializing in consulting, project development, and fundraising. In addition to lectures, participants put the material into practice through activities such as sales simulations, financial management games, and calculation exercises.
The training was led by consultants Marilda Brasileiro Rios and Jaqueline Rocha from Master Ideias, a company specializing in consulting, project development, and fundraising. In addition to lectures, participants put the material into practice through activities such as sales simulations, financial management games, and calculation exercises.
During the workshop, the women received guidance on managing personal and business income, pricing seeds considering production and logistics costs, property security, and access to social rights and benefits. They also received the "Women Guardians of the Forest" booklet, developed by Master Ideias under the supervision of SOS Amazônia, to support planning for seed collection, production control, and the organization of seed marketing.
According to the project coordinator, Suzy Anne Araújo, the material was designed to meet the needs of the female collectors and strengthen their financial autonomy. In addition to serving as a management tool, the notebook contains information on social security benefits and asset protection.
"The workshop seeks to reinforce the importance of women as leaders, income generators, and managers of family resources," emphasizes Suzy Anne.
For Fabíola Feitosa, a member of the group of collectors, the experience represented an opportunity to acquire knowledge that can transform her reality. "If I put all this into practice, I'm sure I'll earn much more than I did before. I learned a lot and I want to take this knowledge with me for life," comments the extractive worker.
"The workshop seeks to reinforce the importance of women as leaders, income generators, and managers of family resources," emphasizes Suzy Anne.
For Fabíola Feitosa, a member of the group of collectors, the experience represented an opportunity to acquire knowledge that can transform her reality. "If I put all this into practice, I'm sure I'll earn much more than I did before. I learned a lot and I want to take this knowledge with me for life," comments the extractive worker.
Mulheres Coletoras de Sementes
Created in 2024, the Mulheres Coletoras de Sementes project was born to address one of the main challenges of forest restoration in the Amazon: the scarcity of native seeds in sufficient quantity and quality, coupled with the difficulties faced by producing families, such as lack of infrastructure, technical assistance, and adequate logistics.
To respond to this scenario, the initiative works in an integrated way to strengthen the forest restoration chain. Among the actions developed are the mobilization and organization of community groups, training of women collectors, provision of work equipment and personal protective equipment, as well as the construction and renovation of community plant nurseries, with the installation of irrigation systems and the provision of tools and supplies.
Another important aspect of the project is the purchase of seeds produced by the communities, guaranteeing local income generation and supplying the restoration actions carried out by SOS Amazônia. In parallel, the project invests in strengthening the financial autonomy of the participants, expanding their possibilities for entering new markets and prospecting clients.
Currently, the initiative benefits 79 women in communities in six municipalities in Acre: Sena Madureira, Tarauacá, Marechal Thaumaturgo, Mâncio Lima, Xapuri, and Assis Brasil.
By strengthening women's participation in the forest restoration chain, the project promotes productive inclusion, values traditional knowledge, and recognizes the essential role of female leadership in the conservation of the Amazon and in building a more sustainable development model.
Created in 2024, the Mulheres Coletoras de Sementes project was born to address one of the main challenges of forest restoration in the Amazon: the scarcity of native seeds in sufficient quantity and quality, coupled with the difficulties faced by producing families, such as lack of infrastructure, technical assistance, and adequate logistics.
To respond to this scenario, the initiative works in an integrated way to strengthen the forest restoration chain. Among the actions developed are the mobilization and organization of community groups, training of women collectors, provision of work equipment and personal protective equipment, as well as the construction and renovation of community plant nurseries, with the installation of irrigation systems and the provision of tools and supplies.
Another important aspect of the project is the purchase of seeds produced by the communities, guaranteeing local income generation and supplying the restoration actions carried out by SOS Amazônia. In parallel, the project invests in strengthening the financial autonomy of the participants, expanding their possibilities for entering new markets and prospecting clients.
Currently, the initiative benefits 79 women in communities in six municipalities in Acre: Sena Madureira, Tarauacá, Marechal Thaumaturgo, Mâncio Lima, Xapuri, and Assis Brasil.
By strengthening women's participation in the forest restoration chain, the project promotes productive inclusion, values traditional knowledge, and recognizes the essential role of female leadership in the conservation of the Amazon and in building a more sustainable development model.