August 2004
As part of this project, I interviewed eight people who work in the area of development, and discussed their experience with the Millennium Development Goals and conflict. Their responses are combined in six essays, each focusing on a different development goal. These include:
- Poverty and Conflict
- Development, Education and Conflict
- Gender Equality, Development and Conflict
- Development, Health and Conflict
- Development, Environment and Conflict
- Global Partnerships and Development
Interviewees List
The list of people and organizations interviewed includes:
AMDA -- Environmental Development Association of Minas Gerais
AMDA is a NGO that works to promote sustainable development in the state of Minas Gerais, in the Brazilian Southeast. Founded in 1978, this NGO became well known in the state for its rallies against environmental degradation, especially iron mining, one of the main local industries. Gradually, the organization moved toward opening channels for dialogue with diverse actors in society. Today, the NGO has established partnerships with mining companies that, in the past, were clear enemies. Maria Dalce is the founder-director of AMDA.
Maria Livia de Castro Cultural Center, and Humbiumbi -- Art, Culture and Education
Maria Livia de Castro established two intertwined organizations, one in 1996 and the other in 1998, after spending seven years in Angola during a civil war. She has spent her life providing art education for poor youth. These two NGOs complement each others' activities, promoting empowerment through education, art, and culture for children and adolescents living in Belo Horizonte's poor west region.
Kangaroo Mother Care Program
Kangaroo Mother Care is a Colombian initiative for lowering child mortality rates that has also been introduced in Brazil. It consists of parents providing their babies with skin-to-skin contact in which the babies can hear the adult's heart. This method helps maintain the child's temperature and there is psychological evidence that this form of contact builds a stronger connection between parent and toddler. Nurse Miriam Leno is responsible for implementing the Program in two hospitals in the city of Belo Horizonte.
PETI -- Program for Eradication of Child Labor
PETI was first developed by the Federal Government in 1996. Its aim is to eliminate all forms of child labor in Brazil. The Federal Government defines general guidelines, concedes compensatory income to families and concedes resources to town governments. Doing this, they can ensure the inclusion of the children between the ages of seven and 14 years in activities that complement their school activities and include their families in projects for income generation. Neide de Castro and Maria Joana de Oliveira are responsible for the implementation of this program in Ribeirno das Neves, a town in the metropolitan area of Belo Horizonte.
Pro-Nursery Movement (MLPC)
The Pro-Nursery Movement (MLPC) is an institution established in the late 1970s in Belo Horizonte. MLPC intends to strengthen nurseries so they can intervene in public policies in order to ensure quality assistance in childcare. This organization aggregates nurseries and standardizes them. MLPC offers training courses for professionals in the areas of nursery management, teaching, and also for councilors in the municipal councils. Cintia Paixno is the psychologist in charge of the program and Margareth Carvalho is the fundraiser.
Telemig Celular Institute
Telemig Celular, a big telecommunications company in Brazil, created the Telemig Celular Institute in 1999, headed by Ana Borges, the institute's executive director. The aim of this not-for-profit institute is to strengthen the company's social responsibility. The original idea was that 1% of the income tax of the company's staff would be directly addressed to FIA, the Infant and Adolescent Fund, which is aimed at financing projects implemented by the Child and Adolescent State Council. As the institution is new and its staff has little experience in this area, a partnership was built with UNICEF. They provide expertise and knowledge, as well as establishing trust-based relationships with other partners.
SEBRAE, Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Companies and DLIS, Integrated and Sustainable Local Development
DLIS is a project performed by SEBRAE, Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Companies in various areas of Brazil. It is a paradigm of distributive economic development, fostering income concentration and causing a significant impact on social conditions and not compromising natural resources. SEBRAE has engaged in the promotion of local development initiatives in which a facilitator promotes local participation and capacity-building. All segments of society are expected to benefit, building a sharing understanding and improving their analytical view of the problems and potentialities within the area they life. Deborah Goldemberg is regional supervisor of the project.
BAMCRUS -- Bambuzeria Cruzeiro do Sul
BAMCRUS is a quasi-NGO whose main goal is to promote development of technical and scientific culture for using bamboo as an income-generating alternative for socially-excluded groups in society. BAMCRUS is directed by Lucio Ventania, who works in an alliance with communities, businessmen, private and public organizations and local governments.
CDL Foundation
CDL is the Small Business Association of Belo Horizonte. This entity created the CDL Foundation in 1986, with the aim of increasing children's social conditions, and helping adolescents get into the job market. Both groups receive special education in ethics, sexuality and manners. Cristiane Vilela is responsible for this project.
BH United against AIDS
This program aims at preventing and treating sexually transmitted diseases (STD) and AIDS. The focus of the project is on the groups in which infection is more frequently detected and is spreading more rapidly, such as prostitutes, drug addicts, women and homosexuals. These people are the main targets of the program, as they are considered vulnerable groups. BH United against AIDS works in partnership with health centers, NGOs and other governmental programs. Facilitators are chosen among those with AIDS, and trained to talk to other people carrying AIDS. Carmem Mazzilli is the program coordinator.
Use the following to cite this article:
Barbanti, Jr., Olympio . "Development and Conflict In Practice: People Interviewed." Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Conflict Information Consortium, University of Colorado, Boulder. Posted: August 2004 <http://www.beyondintractability.org/essay/development-conflict-practice-overview>.
