The fourth quarter of 2025 was marked by the continuation and strengthening of community actions developed by the Mãe Mirra Portal, while also highlighting the structural challenges to the organization's sustainability.
Throughout October, November, and December, the Portal maintained its activities of welcoming, training, and community support, relying primarily on income from accommodations related to courses and retreats, as well as donations and voluntary contributions. These sources of support reflect the continued engagement of visitors and partners who recognize the relevance of the actions carried out in the territory.
A significant achievement this quarter was the consolidation of the sustainability of the retreats and training sessions held at the Center. We are managing to structure these activities in a more stable way, ensuring the appreciation of the facilitators, logistical organization, and strengthening the economic model of the space.
Among the actions carried out during this period, the following stand out:
- October: A workshop on vegetables and agroforestry at Ingrid's farm, led by Normeda and Dona Raimunda, strengthened practical training in successional gardens and regenerative production systems, and promoted the leadership of local women farmers.
- November: Agroecology training with consultant Júlia Vilela, held at Biel's flour mill, brought together approximately 10 participants to discuss management, agroecological transition, and care for the soil and for life.
In addition to training initiatives, we have also initiated a crucial step in the local production chain: We started the production of cocoa and cupuaçu derivatives by the families benefiting from the project., with sales made through the Araçá Community Warehouse.
To date, approximately the following has been produced:
- 3 kg of cocoa nibs
- 2 kg of creamy cupulate
- 1 kg of creamy chocolate with coconut
All of this production is being carried out by the farming families involved in the project, adding value to agroecological production and strengthening the solidarity economy in the territory.
The products are being sold at Armazém Araçá in the following formats:
- 200g jar: R$ 55.00
- 40g jar (cupulate): R$ 14.00
This movement represents a concrete step forward in generating local income, valuing the productive knowledge of families, and consolidating a processing chain aligned with the principles of agroecology, soil regeneration, and well-being.
During the same period, expenses were concentrated on space maintenance, agroecology initiatives, institutional communication, administrative management, human resources, and direct support for community activities. These costs reflect the ongoing effort to ensure the quality of actions, care for the physical space, and the necessary support for the people involved in training and production processes.
It is also important to emphasize that, even when we receive one-off support for specific projects, the organization's monthly result tends to remain negative. This is because the funds raised for projects are earmarked for core activities and do not fully cover the structural, administrative, and ongoing maintenance costs of the Community Center. Thus, the monthly balances reflect this mismatch between earmarked revenues and the fixed expenses necessary to sustain the space.
The quarter therefore ended with a negative financial result — a recurring scenario in community initiatives committed to land regeneration, holistic education, and strengthening local networks, but which still face the challenge of fully covering their structural costs.
Nevertheless, the Mãe Mirra Portal remains committed to its mission of caring for bodies, the land, and life, strengthening agroecological practices, ancestral knowledge, educational processes, and solidarity networks in the Ramal do Pé de Serra region.
Would you like to help us with this mission?
The support of individuals and partner institutions is fundamental to ensuring the continuity and strengthening of the Portal's actions, contributing to the maintenance of the space, the well-being of the team, and the expansion of community initiatives. Contributions, through donations or sponsorship of actions, make all the difference.
Learn more and contribute at:
https://benfeitoria.com/projeto/portalmaemirra01
