MONITORING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MARÉ
This is the column Who Makes Redes, a compilation of the stories of people who build our organization and who work hard every day to do what we do best: actions and projects for residents of Maré. Learn about these stories, trajectories, experiences and the history of Redes da Maré itself - and how this work and the challenges faced since the pandemic have transformed them.
Elisangela Rangel was born at the Federal Hospital of Bonsucesso in the 1980s. She is the daughter of Northeastern mother and a carioca father who, like many, came to live in Maré due to the removal of Favela do Esqueleto (where the State University of Rio Janeiro currently exists). Elisangela participated in the Pre-College Course at Redes da Maré, took a language course, always participated in activities and actions and, since her childhood, she has followed the struggles that move the organization.
One of the oldest memories of the ‘mareense’ is the participation of her father and aunt in the meetings that took place at Escola Nova Holanda, convened by women and residents of Maré to organize and mobilize the struggles for better living conditions in the territory. Since then, she has followed the work of Eliana Sousa, director of Redes da Maré. For her, these mobilizations are responsible for the remarkable development of Maré: “I remember when there were only 6 favelas here: Parque União, Nova Holanda, Baixa, Morro do Timbau, Vila do João and Vila dos Pinheiros. We had almost nothing. There was no access to facilities, such as the Olympic Village, and I know that much of what we have now is the result of the struggle of these people”.
In 2013, when she was looking for job opportunities, she joined the team in our administrative and financial sector, where she continues to work. In the campaign, she continued to work with the activities of the sector, that did not stop during the pandemic. She also collaborated in the registration of families that received food baskets, cleaning kits and alcohol gel.
At the beginning of the pandemic, she got sick. "We give more importance to simple things, small details". Despite not being confirmed by the test, she had all the symptoms of covid-19, and as she lives with her mother, who is elderly, diabetic, cardiac and hypertensive, she was very afraid.
Regarding the performance of Redes da Maré during the pandemic period, Elisangela highlights: “it was an excellent job, if it weren't for Redes, many families would be starving.” She is concerned about the current situation of these families and the challenges that may arise in the coming months, without public policies that help and guarantee the minimum for survival, as was the emergency aid from the Federal Government. "I only believe in changes by the struggle of residents and organizations that are looking for our quality of life", she highlights.
