In Brasilia, the demands of the landless farmers are gaining ground
In Brasilia, from 11 to 15 June, the Fifth National Congress of the Landless Farmers’ Movement (MST) brought together nearly 18 000 participants. After long months of preparations, often beset challenges, there were five days of discussions, workshops and debates. This huge participatory mobilisation ended with the drafting of a document that, once more, questions the authorities and agro-industrial enterprises. Beyond a struggle for land access, the MST today also leads a struggle for the recognition of human rights. ‘Land reform: for social justice and popular sovereignty,’ the red slogan tells. Optimistic and determined, the landless farmers camped out, something that they know a lot about! Living in 5000 acampamentos across the country, more than 2 million Brazilian farmers are still waiting for land.

Sowing Maize in the Capital to Grow National Unity
Parks, gardens, green spaces... Mexico has been sown with traditional maize. On 5 August, farmers’ associations and Mexican artists showed their disapproval to government policy. This campaign in favour of food sovereignty and the renewal of the Mexican countryside started in 2007. The campaign’s slogan: Sin maís no hay país. The FDC (Frente Democrático Campesino) explains: ‘this campaign is a reaction to the country’s current system, whereby Mexican farmers are exported and the food this very labour partly produces is imported back.’

Community Schools for “Solid’Haïti”
Today the children at the Los Platanitos community school, in the Dominican Republic, are learning about migration. But there are no books, just a Haitian parent who has come in to tell his tale. In this country, which tolerates a more or less official segregation system for Haitians and Dominicans of Haitian origin, the Onè Respe association has, since 1996, been starting up community schools in order to overcome extremely deep-rooted prejudices and to "create a spirit of solidarity between the children", explained Joël Valerio, an NGO member. There are now four schools with 500 schoolchildren, ranging in age from one to twelve, who are receiving a quality education. The aim is clear – to provide good academic skills, multi-cultural knowledge, and to encourage open-mindedness, which is key to personal development.

The displaced peasants of Mantaro get ready for their feria
"This feria will be a first for the valley. Producers, craftsmen, associations, public authorities and private institutions have helped to organise it". This was how Carlos Chuquival summed up the magnificent co-operation that was the hallmark of the first Feria for tourism and economic development. It took place on 23 and 24 August in Chilca, in the southern part of the Mantaro Valley. Carlos is responsible for the town's local economic development and for over three months he was in charge of co-ordinating all the vital forces in the area to ensure that this festival was a success in both economic and human terms.

Makhurka Teatro: an exchange between racist evils  and Racine’s words
How to re-create a dialog between white, native and mixed cultures… According to Makhurka Teatro it is a necessity to create link between urban and rural communities. The four members of the Bolivian troupe went to meet native peoples of Cochabamba in order to gather tales, myths and legends. From the elderly people of Limo village to the children of Punata and the Tacopaya peasants, the exchange did prove fruitful. The purpose is to save oral traditions and to write a play set in a rural area that will be shown to city-dwellers in order to promote interculturality.

The Festival of Traditional Games Took Place in Havana’s Metropolitan Park
More than 100 young people demonstrated their fraternity taking part into the first Festival of Traditional Games at Metropolitan Park in Havana (PMH). From 20 to 24 August, volunteers and technicians organized this event, in order to encourage the continuation of local traditions as well as to build social links in different neighborhoods. This is the product of PMH’s project for socio-cultural integration, in which Cieric has been a long-standing partner. This festival uses games as a tool for local development.

Carmen relentlessly fights for community development.
For over 13 years, Carmen has been involved in the CIERIC–ERCCI (Exchange and Reference Centre for Community Initiatives), a Cuban partner of FdH. She was trained as an economist but has developed a passion for community development, exemplified by her life’s work. As she is smiling, she shares her experience with us, displaying both pedagogy and enthusiasm.