Brazil announces actions aimed at traditional communities

Brazil government announced on Monday (Feb. 7) a series of initiatives for several traditional communities. BRL 31.3 million ($ 5.9 million dollars) shall be invested in the public health system, entrepreneurship, combating violence, research and diagnosis and training.

During the opening ceremony of the Week for the Appreciation of Traditional Peoples and Communities, Health Minister Marcelo Queiroga said that he expects an increase in the number of quilombolas registered so that public policies can be mapped out for such populations.

“An ordinance from the Ministry of Health has allocated BRL 27 million ($ 5.1 million dollars) to the quilombola population. 30% of them are registered,” said the minister. “Our quilombola population is over 1.3 million people, and with this ordinance we want to reach more than 50% of the registered community”, the minister added.

At the event, a public notice was also launched providing training in entrepreneurship for a thousand people belonging to traditional peoples and communities in the state of Acre. Guides aimed at comprehensive health care for the Roma people and rural, forest and water populations and traditional peoples and communities have also been presented during the ceremony.

Two other public notices also launched on Monday (Feb. 7) shall implement Horizons — a program aimed at entrepreneurship among young people aged between 18 and 29 — in northern and northeastern Brazil and in municipalities in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. BRL 800,000 ($ 151,000 dollars) shall be invested in courses and workshops for around 11,500 young people belonging to traditional peoples and communities.

Activities are expected to begin in April.