Our Partner Community: Terra Prometida, Brazil

In the late 60’s and early 70’s, an endless dry spell in the interior of northeast Brazil caused many people to search for a very slim chance of success in overcrowded cities. In 1990, two hundred fifty of these families who had flocked to Fortaleza were led to live on a plot of abandoned coastline by five Brazilian women. These families created the community of Terra Prometida, Fairloom’s partner community.

Today, these spirited and driven people of Terra Prometida have homes, electricity and running water. They have developed various education projects such as adult literacy classes, a small community school, cultural dance and theatre classes for children, and a library. This is a valued achievement, for youth education is very poor. Public schools usually operate on inadequate funding, resulting in a short school day (four hours) and a high student/teacher ratio. For children in impoverished communities to become competent and literate adults, the communities must fortify their education and health. For these programs to be sustainable, most funding must ultimately come from within the community. Fairloom is partnering with the women of Terra Prometida to make this happen.