On September 22, in partnership with the Committee of Entities in the Struggle Against Hunger and for a Full Life (COEP), Aga Khan Foundation Canada hosted the Canadian launch of Cotton, Computers and Citizenship: A story of economic and social change among rural communities in Northeastern Brazil with the author Dr. John Saxby.
In partnership with the Committee of Entities in the Struggle Against Hunger and for a Full Life (COEP), Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKFC) hosted the Canadian launch of Cotton, Computers and Citizenship: A story of economic and social change among rural communities in Northeastern Brazil with the author, Dr. John Saxby. The book documents the history, achievements and future of COEP - a social mobilization network created in 1993 as part of the popular movement against hunger and poverty in Brazil. Remarking on the intent of the book, Dr. Saxby noted that “[we] have not approached this story as an evaluation. We have chosen to focus on ‘what works’ and seeking to understand the most significant changes that have taken place in the communities participating in the Programa.”
Dr. Saxby was accompanied by COEP’s President and Executive Secretary, Mr. André Spitz and Ms. Gleyse Peiter. In a moderated discussion facilitated by AKFC’s CEO, Khalil Shariff, Mr. Spitz emphasized that it was important to “address the needs of the communities in an institutional way. It was not only a question of income generation but also of community organization.”
Ms. Peiter echoed this sentiment, adding that the greater involvement of women and youth in the development of their communities would be a permanent legacy of the program. Earlier in the day, AKFC and COEP also co-hosted an intimate roundtable discussion centred on best practices in food security and rural development. The participants drew on their extensive experiences, sharing the challenges faced in implementing and sustaining such initiatives.
Other resources:
- A review of Cotton, Computers and Citizenship: http://pambazuka.org/en/category/books/76703
- Film clip link: http://www.coepbrasil.org.br/coepteve/arquivos/COEPTeVe_Video_C402.wmv
