“Relatives who Do”: Indigenous women receive training for business management

Manaus (AM) — With the aim of empowering indigenous women and boosting entrepreneurship and income generation in their villages and communities, the so-called “Parentas que Fazem” held another training workshop in entrepreneurial management. The training took place at the headquarters of the Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS), in Manaus, last week, and involved 15 indigenous women from the five organizations selected by the notice, who will receive a contribution of R$250,000 each.

“Parentas que Fazem” is a FAS initiative with support from Google.org, Google’s philanthropic institution, and partnership with the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab) and Makira-E’ta – Rede de Mulheres Indígenas do Amazonas . In addition to financial support, each selected project receives entrepreneurial initiation services, technical advice and management training.

The workshop covered topics such as strategic management tools, online management system, action plans, controllership and use of digital media. According to the FAS Indigenous Agenda supervisor, Rosa dos Anjos, the training was developed according to the scope of the project, which provides for the offering of entrepreneurship techniques in the fields of business management, marketing and digital media.

“The evaluation of the project has been very positive. FAS has worked towards an inclusive and participatory implementation of indigenous women, strengthening them institutionally, identifying potentialities and points that need attention. There will also be training in entrepreneurship for five other organizations that were not included in the resource, as foreseen in the call. This training must take place in strategic municipalities to enable local organizations to join”,

explains the supervisor.

Workshop participant, Sandy Yusuro, 19 years old, financial administrator of the Sateré Mawé Indigenous Women’s Association (AMISM) — an initiative based in Manaus that works with the production and commercialization of handicrafts, clothing and medicinal products — states that the workshop contributed to expanding the business vision of the association.

“The workshop was fundamental, as it helped us acquire more knowledge and also share what we know. The training showed us how we can expand our work and grow even more. I highlight the training on the product valuation system and the importance of working with spreadsheets and counting working hours and the time it takes to produce a product. The workshop will help our business in all ways, from production to sales,”

declared the young indigenous woman.

To learn more about the so-called “Relatives Who Do”, visit

Sustainable Amazon Foundation

The Sustainable Amazon Foundation (FAS) is a non-profit civil society organization that works for the sustainable development of the Amazon. Its mission is to contribute to the conservation of the biome, to improve the quality of life of the populations of the Amazon and to enhance the standing forest and its biodiversity.

With 16 years of operation, the institution has outstanding numbers, such as the 202% increase in the average income of thousands of benefited families and the 40% drop in deforestation in areas served.

About Coiab

The Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (Coiab) is an indigenous organization with 34 years of experience in defending indigenous rights to land, health, education, culture and sustainability, considering the diversity of peoples, and aiming for their autonomy through articulation policy and strengthening indigenous organizations.

It is the largest regional indigenous organization in Brazil in terms of number of peoples included and area of ​​coverage. It operates in nine states in the Brazilian Amazon (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima and Tocantins) and is linked to a network made up of local associations, regional federations, women’s organizations, teachers, indigenous students, and subdivided into 64 base regions.

Makira E’ta

Makira E’ta – Indigenous Women’s Network of the State of Amazonas is an independent, private Civil Society Organization (CSO) of public interest, without political-party ties, with non-economic purposes, founded on July 29, 2017 .

Its mission is to promote social, political and economic development, with priority given to indigenous women. Makira E’ta believes in a society with equal opportunities for all people and in this the leading role of indigenous women, especially in communities that are not reached by state and municipal public policies.

*With information from consultancy

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