João Afonso

Santo Antão

COMMUNITY

Around 700 residents live in the community of João Afonso, mainly young people. People live mainly from agriculture, such as growing sugar cane, fruits, vegetables and even raising animals.

The community's main and most recent infrastructure is the construction of the road section, which provides access to the communities in the valley, and which will facilitate people's mobility and stimulate local development. The community also has a multipurpose school, a health center, a community center and a kindergarten with access to water and energy in the homes.

In this community, the project helped the ADIJA women's association to acquire the necessary equipment to improve the production of jams and liqueurs, produced with local fruit.

THE EXPERIENCES:

JOÃO AFONSO’S WORKSHOPS

PREPARATION OF MARMELADES

Guava, papaya, mango are transformed into tasty jellies, transformed by the wise and experienced hands of the ladies from local women's associations.

YOU DISCOVER

JOÃO AFONSO’S WORKSHOPS

PREPARATION OF MARMELADES

Guava, papaya, mango are transformed into tasty jellies, transformed by the wise and experienced hands of the ladies from local women's associations.

YOU DISCOVER

ANOTHER CAPE VERDE

The community tells its story

Donna Mimì

I have always cooked food, first only for my family, for my three children, now that they are grown up I take care of tourists. In my house I have three bedrooms, once occupied by my children, where those who visit us can sleep. You ask me what is the most beautiful place here? Everyone! People are always well, they are calm. They rest, they relax in our large and airy terrace or in the fresh and bright rooms. I have many stories collected over the years of people who have stopped by me, I can tell you one that has remained in my heart:

Donna Mimì

One evening many years ago two boys knocked on the door and asked me to sleep on the terrace. They had no money, but it was very cold. So I made them come in and sit in the room, so you know, even without money. In exchange, they helped me a lot for a few days with the housework. It happened a long time ago, but I remember it well and with joy.

Donna Mimì

As you can see, mine is a full-time job: the house, the guests, the community association and the fruit processing: at the beginning each of us brought what we had, some the sugar, some the grog, some the fruit. Then slowly and thanks to the formations, the case gave way to a real small chain of hard-working hands and, year after year, we began to earn something to keep for ourselves. It's a great satisfaction to self-finance and also have a small income, after all we started with our own efforts and that's how we like to think we'll continue.