Morro D’Água Quente, Minas Gerais, 2015. Raízes was involved from the very beginning in the collective effort to build Sabores do Morro, supporting the growth of local businesses and community organizations.
More than a decade after we helped organize the first fairs, we’ve reconnected with the entrepreneurs who made that initiative grow in a completely different setting: now they are the ones inspiring and supporting other groups to forge their own paths in a project conceived by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and funded by Samarco. That is development.
Back in 2015, the community’s kitchens and backyards were already home to local products, recipes passed down through generations, and a strong desire to start new ventures. There was also a region with the potential to bring together gastronomy, culture, and tourism. The starting point was to take a close look at all of this: to bring people together, recognize the value of what they were already doing, and imagine—together—an initiative that would be meaningful to those who lived there.
The Raízes initiative, initially carried out in partnership with the Vale Foundation, involved mapping producers, providing technical and managerial training, holding co-creation meetings, implementing human development initiatives, strengthening the brand, and coordinating with the tourism supply chain. The most significant effects, however, were evident in everyday life—in these women’s self-esteem, in their interactions with one another, in the money that remained circulating within the community, and in the realization that collective work could strengthen each business.
After Raízes’ 15-month contract came to an end—a period that was very fruitful and saw all goals achieved—the group still had new challenges and aspirations. Raízes joined the collective as a partner in organizing the first Sabores do Morro festival.
We could hardly have imagined that 11 years later, they would actively contribute to the project “Building Peace and Dialogue for the Sustainable Development of the Upper Rio Doce Region”. But we cannot deny that we already saw the potential, which is why we reaffirm our decision to let this group serve as our inspiration.
Development that inspires transformation
The collective has become a model. Its practices, choices, and forms of organization have helped groups in other territories reflect on their own paths. Systematizing this experience means organizing memories, recognizing important decisions, and bringing to light the knowledge produced over the years. Each territory, of course, has its own history, conflicts, and strengths; therefore, the significance of Sabores do Morro lies in the value of the conversations and reflections it can spark to foster development.
“We have been supporting this process by documenting and systematizing the practices developed by the association, as well as by organizing exchanges between the different regions. The idea is that groups from communities such as Paracatu de Baixo, in the district of Mariana, and Antônio Pereira, in the district of Ouro Preto, can gain firsthand insight into the Sabores do Morro experience and, at the same time, share their own journeys, challenges, and lessons learned”, explains Jussara Rocha, project director at Raízes.
The Association can share the agreements that have helped sustain the collective work, the challenges faced, the decisions made, and the conditions that have allowed the group to remain active. During these exchanges, it also listens to the experiences, questions, and insights shared by the other communities.
Following the exchanges, the work will focus on developing a plan for the future and for growth. The goal is for these meetings to provide a more solid foundation and guidelines for the next steps of each participating group.
Timeline
Here are a few moments that help illustrate how this story took shape:
- 2015 | The Beginning: The Sabores do Morro Market is launched, created through a participatory process involving producers and residents of Morro d’Água Quente.
- 2016 | Building Strength: The initiative welcomes new participants, holds additional editions, participates in external events, and expands its ties to gastronomy, tourism, and income generation.
- 2017 | New steps: The group holds the first Sabores do Morro Festival, makes progress toward formally establishing the Association, and launches initiatives such as the Rota dos Sabores and its own calendar of fairs.
- 2019 | Autonomy in Motion: The Association begins to carry out its activities with greater independence, organizes the Festival, and strengthens its communications, partnerships, and presence in the region.
- 2025 | Ten years of history: Sabores do Morro celebrates a decade marked by income generation, community organizing, identity, women’s leadership, and sustainability.
- 2026 | An experience that spreads: the journey begins to be systematized and shared with other groups, opening a new chapter for the Association and its relationship with Raízes.
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The story of Sabores do Morro shows us that the impact of a social and environmental project can extend far beyond what is stipulated in a contract. That impact endures as people take ownership of the processes, strengthen relationships, and forge new paths that no longer depend on the constant presence of those who helped get the project off the ground.
Perhaps that is what time allows us to build: a story of development that continues to grow and, as it grows, makes room for others to begin as well.
