Project implemented during the 2019–2020 academic year
Since 2010, the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation have been present in the Amazon region through a community based in Vila Verde, located 58 kilometers from Rio Branco, the capital of Acre State in Brazil, which borders Peru and Bolivia.
The Amazon is a complex region shaped by multiple forms of inequality and social challenges. This reality is often described as the “resource curse”: despite being rich in natural resources, particularly non-renewable resources such as oil and minerals, local communities frequently experience lower levels of economic development, violations of their rights, widespread poverty, and limited social progress.
Current public policies have often failed to adequately protect both the environment and local populations. Communities face labor exploitation, water contamination caused by mining activities, illegal occupation and burning of indigenous and protected lands for cattle ranching, illegal logging, and other forms of environmental degradation. These factors contribute to rural violence, insecurity, social inequality, and reduced access to essential rights and services such as education and healthcare.
Within this challenging social and environmental context, the Dominican Sisters of the Annunciation carry out their evangelizing mission. Spiritual accompaniment has become increasingly important in communities affected by uncertainty and hardship. The Sisters support people who wish to receive the sacraments, participate in catechesis, attend formation programs, community gatherings, and Sunday Masses. Reaching these activities often requires journeys of up to three hours on foot.
Missionary work is further complicated by the geography and climate of the region. During the rainy season, many communities become completely isolated, making travel nearly impossible. Access is generally limited to the dry season, which lasts only about four months each year. To illustrate these challenges, the 58-kilometer journey from Rio Branco to the Sisters’ community in Vila Verde can take up to three hours by bus.
The project
A 4×4 vehicle is essential for reaching remote communities located deep within the forest and along the Transacreana Highway. The vehicle will enable the transportation of community members so they can participate in parish activities, whether held at the parish center or in neighboring communities.
The vehicle will be dedicated to evangelization, pastoral accompaniment, formation activities, and strengthening the Sisters’ presence among communities seeking access to the Gospel and spiritual support.
Objectives
- Improve pastoral care and increase the frequency of visits to communities within Our Lady of Fatima Parish, where currently only one visit per year is possible.
- Provide formation and training for community leaders, strengthening relationships and networks among communities.
- Facilitate transportation for people traveling between communities to participate in parish celebrations, meetings, and events.
Beneficiaries
The 28 communities that make up Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Acre, Brazil.
Total project budget
25.000,00 €