About BBMF for Brazil

Although Brazil isn't currently at war, the legacy of colonialism and its aftermath continues to affect many populations, creating a deep need for stress and trauma relief. This is crucial to help them continue fighting for their rights and building better lives for themselves and their communities.

Piauí, a state in northeastern Brazil, is one of the country’s poorest. Some of its most vulnerable communities include descendants of formerly enslaved people (around 31,000 individuals), Indigenous groups (about 7,000 people), and incarcerated women (around two hundred women). Each of these groups faces significant challenges.

The descendants of enslaved people live on the same land where their ancestors—runaway slaves—established communities to practice their culture and seek refuge freely. However, these communities are under threat today as large-scale agricultural businesses encroach on their land.

Indigenous groups are also fighting to protect their territories from the impact of deforestation. Additionally, there are Indigenous communities from Venezuela migrating to Brazil due to the ongoing climate and economic crisis in their home country.

The incarcerated women in Piauí are mostly Afro-Brazilian, a group that faces systemic racism and multiple layers of vulnerability. Together, these communities represent over 38,000 people in need of support.

BBMF's practices can empower these groups, helping them become more resilient and better able to care for themselves and their communities.