Government launches notice with R$ 1.5 million for NGOs that operate in terreiros

The Lula government, through the Ministry of Racial Equality (MIR), in partnership with the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), launched a notice to distribute R$ 1.5 million for “initiatives of people from terreiros and communities of African origin, that work with axé economy, culture and agroecology”. The MIR is commanded by minister Anielle Franco.

According to the MIR statement, published on January 22, 2024, private non-profit organizations, civil society organizations and groups or collectives without legal personality may participate in the competition.

Named the Mãe Gilda de Ogum 2024 Notice, the competition was organized by the secretary of policies for quilombolas, traditional peoples and communities of African origin, people from terreiros and gypsies of the MIR, Ronaldo dos Santos.

“The date chosen for the launch of the notice is part of the Federal Government’s commitment to strengthening communities of African origin and to the memory of Mãe Gilda, who, after having her health problems worsened as a result of hate attacks directed at her image , depredation of his terreiro, verbal and physical attacks suffered by representatives of other religions, he suffered a heart attack and died a victim of religious racism, aged 65, on January 21, 2000”, says an excerpt from the MIR statement.

The date of Mãe Gilda’s death was used as a milestone for the National Day to Combat Religious Intolerance.

The religious honored by the government in the notice is Gildásia dos Santos e Santos, known as Mãe Gilda, founder of the Axé Abassá de Ogum terreiro, located in Salvador (BA).

With plenty of support from the government of Bahia, led by PT member Jerônimo Rodrigues, Mãe Gilda’s terreiro also has a political role with left-wing candidates.

In 2022, during the electoral race, the event to launch the candidacy for federal deputy of Vera Lúcia Barbosa, known as Lucinha of the MST, was held at the Axé Abassá de Ogum terreiro.

“We are putting our block on the streets and this is just one chapter in a trajectory of determination, fight for rights and a lot of support. Congratulations, Lucinha from MST. We will continue marching! The campaign continues! For religious freedom, democracy and life”, says a post about the event shared on the terreiro’s Instagram at the time.

PT candidate, Lucinha was not elected, but managed to remain as a substitute. Currently, Lucinha is the party’s National Secretary of Popular Movements and Sector Policies and is responsible for the relationship between the PT and social movements.