###### tags: `reports`, `apc`, `en-us`

# Travel Report Brazil

## *Where is it happening?

_ IBEBrasil Event: IBEBrasil National Multi-stakeholder Event at UENF University, Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ

_ Community Exchange in Marrecas: Meeting between the communities of Marrecas and Casa dos Meninos, in Marrecas, Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ

_ Peers Exchange: LOCNET Peer Exchange Meeting in Marrecas, Campos dos Goytacazes - RJ and at Casa dos Meninos, São Paulo - SP
## *Purpose and description of the travel exchange:

** IBEBrasil Event: **

_ Four-day event at the Federal University of Baixada Fluminense - UENF with both technical and social activities of Community Networks, with the participation of eleven members of the Casa dos Meninos, two LOCNET peers, residents of Marrecas and students of the university, public visitor and guests.

** Exchange between Communities in Marrecas: **

_ IBEBrasil works mainly with two communities that are in different states in Brazil, and have never had the opportunity to exchange techniques, good practices and management models. The two communities have very different contexts and realities, being Marrecas a rural community, and Casa dos Meninos a peripheral urban community. With this in mind, IBEBrasil has scheduled an exchange meeting between the two communities during the activities of the IBEBrasil Event and the Peers' visit to Brazil.

** Peer Exchange: **

_ As part of the Pathfinder project activities, some of the LOCNET peers participated in the activities promoted by IBEBrasil, which included National Multi-Stakeholder Event, Exchange Meeting between the Casa dos Meninos e Marrecas communities in the territory of Marrecas, and visit Casa dos Meninos in Sao Paulo.
_ Participated in the IBEBrasil Event and Meeting in Marrecas: Karla Velasco (Redes) and Angie (Colnodo)
_ Participated in the Meeting at the Casa dos Meninos: Karla Velasco (Redes), Santiago (Altermundi), Angie and Lilian (Colnodo)

## *What was lessons learned from this travel exchange which can be shared with the community network global group?

We learned how important it is to exchange mutual collaboration between communities that have community networks, independent of organizations like IBEBrasil, Colnodo, Altermundi and Coolab, who are external agents supporting these communities. Once communities achieve a good degree of ownership of the technologies, methodologies and practices of managing a community network, they can themselves become multipliers, supporting new communities who wish to start a community network, as well as helping other existing communities. in the continuous learning process.

We have identified the need to create collaborative and free platforms so that these exchanges can be carried out continuously and remotely.

## *What was lessons learned from this travel exchange which can be shared with the public?

The importance of socio-economic arrangements based on values of cooperation to maintain the sustainability of community projects, such as the community network itself, or similar projects, such as the community water supply system created in Marrecas, as a solution to the problem of lack of water supply and sanitation offered by the public sector.

## *Any overall reflections of the travel exchange?

Despite all the technology available, they will never be able to replace face-to-face meetings like this, even if they occur only eventually. Finding ways to fund and promote such exchange meetings, both among local communities and with groups and communities in other Latin American countries, helps to strengthen struggles and overcome regional problems.

## *Can any of the material be recommended towards use of learning inputs for a community network teaching syllabus? If so, what is it?

_Blog Post:
EN-PT:
PT-BR:

_Videos and Photos:

https://ibebrasil.org.br/2019/12/imagens-sobre-redes-comunitarias-em-quadrinhos/
https://ibebrasil.org.br/en/2019/12/imagery-about-networks-in-comics/
https://ibebrasil.org.br/2019/12/prosa-com-mulheres-em-redes-comunitarias/
https://ibebrasil.org.br/en/2019/12/conversation-with-women-in-community-networks/
https://ibebrasil.org.br/encontro-redes-comunitarias-tecnologias-sociais-2019/
https://ibebrasil.org.br/2020/01/mini-documentario-de-redes-comunitarias/