Third reFloresta journey
On July 5, 2024, we — 22 people from various regions of Brazil — set out for the community of Anã, a place filled with generous hearts, located within the Tapajós-Arapiuns Extractive Reserve in Pará’s Amazon region.
Over eight days, we expanded our imagination, built a genuine connection with the community, and together strengthened our commitment to defend the forest and those living on the front lines of its protection.
The 3rd Journey sparked something that will last beyond the trip: a partnership rooted in love and connection between the reFLORESTA Movement and the Anã pela Amazônia community. The work continues as the community, with the movement’s support, brings to life the project that began during this journey.
The journey
Preparations for the 3rd Journey began with the selection of 22 people from different regions of Brazil who would set off for the community of Anã, in Pará’s Amazon region. The selection process lasted two months and involved over 40 candidates, all aligned with the purpose and principles of the reFLORESTA Movement — connecting people from across Brazil with and for the Amazon.
Our group included participants from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, the riverside community of Anã, and the indigenous village of Atodi, embarking on an internal and collective journey through the Amazon.
The third day of the reFLORESTA Movement was marked by deeply special and transformative moments — both among us visitants, and, above all, in our shared life with the Anã community.
The warm welcome we received opened the door to a series of meaningful experiences: trails guided by local leaders, reFLORESTA activities, moments of integration with the community, river bathing under sun and moonlight, and visits to family homes.
During the “Workshop of the Future,” we dreamed and built collectively alongside the residents. At the puxirum, we all came together to renovate the pier. Sharing knowledge, stories, and lessons brought us closer to the community.
The Cultural Night featured artistic presentations that paid moving tribute to the people who welcomed us with such warmth. Our journey then continued to the Atodi community, where we took part in meetings, reunions, visited the shed project, and held conversation circles with residents.
We closed the experience with the Piracaia ritual — a sharing circle by the riverbank lit by candlelight, followed by a special dinner celebrating the bonds we had created along the way.
Learnings
Our collective strength revealed itself as a flame uniting different hearts, sparked by individual will but quickly transforming into a shared purpose. From the very first days of the journey, a deep sense of connection embraced all of us.
Despite our differences, we shared a common desire to create change together. In our early conversations, we explored the idea of being like a river — not confined by its banks but open to constant change and growth.
During a geographical and historical immersion, we crossed the Arapiuns and Tapajós rivers, discovering the characteristics of the soil, the plant species, and the local fauna. We observed the stilt houses, noticed the changing water levels, and practiced silence to truly hear the sounds of the environment. We celebrated the beauty of being part of this context, understanding the importance of immersing ourselves fully in what the Amazon represents — not simply hearing about it from afar. We shared moments of deep communion with the local community, actively contributing to identifying key issues for its development.
We took part in everyday activities, such as fish farming, preparing annatto, and building huts during puxirum, using straw and wood. We tasted the local cuisine, exploring a rich variety of foods and new combinations. We witnessed firsthand the strength of community-based tourism and understood how unity within the community is essential for its success. In Anã, we were inspired by the artistic expressions of residents — poetry, painting, and music.
Though often involved in sharing knowledge, we also found time for introspection, reflecting quietly and learning to observe the world around us without needing to assign meaning to every detail, simply appreciating the beauty as it is. We cultivated listening, speaking, and relations in their purest forms.
Each day brought experiences that will leave lasting marks and lessons that extend far beyond our time in the Amazon — sparking continuous transformation in every heart that passed through.
Puxirum: the reinstatement of the pier
The puxirum in Anã left incredible marks on everyone who took part in this event, held on the sixth day of immersion during the 3rd Journey of the reFLORESTA Movement. Those present were gifted with the opportunity to renovate the community’s pier, dedicating their sweat and effort to this collective act of care, revitalizing a space so special to the people of Anã.
The pier in Anã is the community’s gateway and a landmark for both residents and visitors. Located on the banks of the Arapiuns River, it is one of the first sights when approaching the community by boat, and its view is perhaps the most beautiful in Anã and along the river.
This place, so dear to the people of Anã, has suffered from floods and lack of maintenance over time. Its walkway, roof, and wooden floor were worn down, and the mission of reFLORESTA was to help restore this place. Under the coordination of Anã’s leaders and residents — Seu Zé, Aldair, Odila, and especially Seu Raimundo — all members of the movement were guided through the day’s tasks and moved by the need to dedicate themselves to delivering a renewed space for the community.
The day began with carrying large planks that would form the pier’s floor. The collective effort of transporting wood in groups to the riverbank set the tone for the work ahead. While a human chain formed to bring the planks up to the pier, others pitched in cleaning the beach surrounding the area, since a historic flood had destroyed the community’s old health post that once stood by the river, leaving bricks, glass shards, and debris scattered in the water and on the sand.
While the beach was being cleaned, on top of the pier the planks were carefully fitted into place by the young people, guided by Seu Raimundo. He patiently taught everyone how to position the wood correctly, hammer the nails, and, in the end, craft the profound art of building a space — a floor to walk on.
Every shelter needs a roof, and it was no different for the pier. Some of the young people dedicated themselves to reconstructing the straw roof, which had also suffered the wear of time. The straw, already carefully cut and left to dry in the sun, awaited the reFLORESTA Movement’s arrival for the puxirum day. The youth carried bundles of straw from a distant field to the riverbank. As the straw arrived, a true task force formed to learn how to tie and secure it to the roof. For the movement, this was a very special moment — working with straw and learning local knowledge about this natural, powerful material that protects the environment. It was a simple, manual craft, yet grand in its significance, building a roof over our heads with something so humble.
The puxirum paused only for lunch, but the day was full of intensity and learning. Bringing life to the ancient art of building a welcoming space — one for children to play and adults to reflect — was undoubtedly unforgettable for all who shared that moment. River baths throughout the day refreshed us from the intense heat, and the breathtaking landscape of endless water under the watch of the forest fueled our energy. Added to that was the care, sensitivity, and dedication of the people of Anã, who passed on their knowledge and flooded the moment with life and collective work.
Puxirum means “mutual help.” This name represents not only a collective way of working but a way of life — a relationship with the land, with the ground beneath our feet, and a form of organization that values society while embracing the individual. The puxirum day in Anã ended with a river bath at sunset on the Arapiuns, filled with the deep gratitude of the entire reFLORESTA Movement for having embraced and feeling embraced by Anã.
