Project teaches women from the outskirts of the city how to build and renovate their homes

Around 33 million Brazilians are homeless, according to a report by the United Nations Human Settlements Programme. Six years ago, this percentage was led by men, who accounted for 80% of the total. Today, this situation is similar, with an increase in the number of homeless women. One of the reasons for the increase in the number of women living on the streets is the lack of social policies to address the issue. In other cases, the 30% increase in violence against women recorded in 2018 is another factor that leads to women running away from home and living in precarious conditions on the streets. Whether due to social or financial conditions, many of these women want to start their lives over again, with independence and dignity. And thinking about improving the lives of these people, a group of women, with degrees in architecture, created the project Arquitetura na Periferia , which shares knowledge and attitude. Born from a master's thesis by architect Carina Guedes, the project has been running since 2014, offering training in technical assistance for women in territories with housing and infrastructure deficits, such as peripheral communities and occupations. [quote author=""]"Instead of offering a product, we seek to favor the autonomy of participants, expanding their capacity for analysis, discussion, prospecting, planning and cooperation"[/quote] The project aims to improve housing for women from the outskirts of the city, through a process where they are introduced to the practices and techniques of design and planning works and receive microfinancing so that they can carry out renovations to their homes independently and without waste.

The project activities are carried out in groups, where participants can help each other, encourage each other and create the relationships that are essential for the smooth running of the work, since the entire process is based on mutual trust. They also receive a small loan to purchase construction materials or hire services to carry out the work. The money that is returned after the installments are paid is invested in new groups, continuing the project, creating a virtuous cycle. The intention is also to put women in charge of decisions that have, primarily, been made by men. Since women spend most of their days at home – in most cases – and know what the real needs of the house are, why not empower them to take action on renovations or construction? There is also the solution to price abuse where, due to ignorance on the subject, many women are deceived and charged more for unnecessary services. The project aims to solve and improve the lives of thousands of women, on the streets and in the outskirts, starting with workshops that last from four to six months, where they begin with drawing and sketching classes. Then, they learn basic financial notions to deal not only with the small loan they received, but also with the mathematics of everyday expenses and the purchase of construction materials. Since 2015, the project has been implemented through the Associação Arquitetas Sem Fronteiras – ASF Brasil , an entity that develops several actions and projects related to the production of urban and rural space together with communities and social movements. In 2018, with the growth of the project, Arquitetura na Periferia was institutionalized through the creation of the Instituto de Assessoria à Mulheres e Inovação ( IAMÍ ), which aims to house new projects that aim at gender equality and the fight against social inequalities. To help and promote the continuity of this project, you can collaborate with donations, whether monetary or construction materials. To do so, just click here!