Women entrepreneurs strengthen businesses with support networks in favelas and peripheries.

247 - In the challenges of female entrepreneurship, especially in the outskirts and favelas, support networks have proven essential to strengthening businesses and boosting women's financial autonomy. According to a report by the Sebrae News Agency, in Rio de Janeiro, the NGO Anjos da Tia Stellinha has played this role, promoting professional training and social assistance for mothers living in communities. In São Paulo, the Coletivo Meninas Mahin focuses on valuing identity and including black women entrepreneurs through fairs and events.

The NGO Anjos da Tia Stellinha, created by social worker Stellinha Moraes, serves around 200 women per month in 14 favelas in Rio de Janeiro, including Morro dos Macacos. The project offers courses in areas such as technology, beauty, cooking, and caregiving, as well as psychological support and therapeutic groups. According to Stellinha, many of these women initially do not see themselves as entrepreneurs. “Even after professional training, most still don't believe they are good enough to sell their products or services. They lack market vision,” she explains.

In addition to technical training, the NGO promotes therapy sessions and workshops on building relationships, creating support networks among the participants. "They share common struggles and strengthen each other not only through communication, but also through interaction and friendship. This leads to partnerships to sell products and do business," Stellinha points out.

The coordinator of Sebrae Rio, Renata Roqui, emphasizes the importance of these connections for the growth of women-led businesses in the periphery. “Sharing best practices and lessons learned allows them to find effective solutions for their businesses, reducing errors and accelerating growth,” she states. Sebrae develops initiatives such as Conexão Terceiro Setor (Third Sector Connection), which supports organizations focused on entrepreneurship with leadership training courses and support for implementing income-generating activities.

In the East Zone of São Paulo, the Meninas Mahin Collective has been working for almost a decade promoting events and fairs aimed at Black women entrepreneurs from the periphery. Ednusa Ribeiro, founder of the project, explains that the initiative's distinguishing feature is adapting technical knowledge to the reality of these women. "We bring technical and academic knowledge closer to them using street language, according to their reality," she emphasizes.

In addition to offering training, the Collective functions as a support network, helping female entrepreneurs clarify doubts, strengthen networking, and work on self-esteem. “We realized that more than just talking about business, it was necessary to raise the self-esteem of these women, especially considering gender and race,” explains Ednusa. During the discussion groups, stories emerge that go beyond the business world. “They talk about family and psychological structures. Many didn't leave home or needed their husband's permission to go out. This in the 21st century,” she comments.

The project maintains six WhatsApp groups to share information and opportunities with participants. It also establishes strategic partnerships that allow for the sale of products in stores and access to practical training tools. The fairs organized by the Collective have already taken place in several states, such as Rio de Janeiro, Bahia, Maranhão, Alagoas, and Rio Grande do Sul.

Both the NGO Anjos da Tia Stellinha and the Coletivo Meninas Mahin demonstrate that, in addition to technical training, emotional support and the creation of support networks are key factors for the success of women entrepreneurs in marginalized communities.