The activity was organized by the Gender and Religion Program, the Sustainability Institute Latin American and the Caribbean and the Identity Group of Faculdades EST
On March 8th, the Diversity Space at Faculdades EST hosted a celebratory coffee to mark International Women’s Day, bringing together around 45 women, including students, professors, and staff from the institution. The event, themed “life, health and peace”, was led by the coordinators of the Gender and Religion Program (PGR), Marli Brun, the Sustainability Institute Latin America and the Caribbean (InS), Scheila Dillenburg, and the Identity Group, Selenir Corrêa Gonçalves Kronbauer.
On a rainy and welcoming morning, the women were greeted with an integration activity, followed by meditation, breakfast and a dialogue circle. The circle featured the participation and testimonials of three prominent community figures: Maria Claudete de Sousa Coelho, coordinator of the Girassol Group; Tânia Silveira, legal promoter and coordinator of the Palmares Group and the Forum of Black Entities of São Leopoldo; and Professor Rose Dias, from the São Leopoldo Municipal Education Secretariat.
Maria Claudete emphasized the importance of female presence in academic spaces and shared her journey of leadership and support for women in vulnerable situations. She highlighted the positive impact of the Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) on her community work.
Tânia Silveira discussed the intrinsic value of women, noting that true importance is not determined by external standards such as race, appearance or certificates. She encouraged participants to value themselves for who they are and for the legacy of their ancestors.
Professor Rose Dias addressed the reception of migrants in São Leopoldo, highlighting the difficulties faced by Haitian women, who often deal with language barriers and racism. She underscored the need for public policies to improve the quality of life for these women and praised the work of the Identity Group in teaching Portuguese.
The PGR coordinator concluded the event by stating that International Women’s Day is rooted in women’s struggle. This year, the gathering with students, staff and professors at the Diversity Space was a valuable opportunity to share experiences with women leaders from São Leopoldo. Women like Priestess Tânia Sansone, who moved us with her story and experiences of fighting and resisting gender and racial prejudice. All the stories we heard and shared transform and inspire us in our pursuit of gender justice in our country and throughout Latin America and the Caribbean region.