anna network: ambassadors of Food of Tomorrow

anna is a network of the ambassadors of Food of Tomorrow (comida do amanhã). First implemented in Rio de Janeiro, is a human-based technology that builds transformation through exchange, support and learning using food as a tool for empowerment with focus on women in low income communities.

Brazil is in risk of returning to the world hunger map. At the same time more than 50% of people are overweight. Low income communities specially favelas are the most food insecure in urban areas. It is where access to sustainable and healthy eating practices is more difficult. Together, at the age of 20/25, men have 10x more chances to die than women, related to strong violence. Women are then the ones responsible to keep the livelihood on their own. Also, gender inequalities are still an important issue in Brazil. Those are the problems we want to address.

Women are more literate, have higher education and are less involved with violent crimes. Also, they still being the main responsibles for food and health their families. Connecting women from different communities to exchange stories, empowering them through a network of trust where food and art go together. Learning to cook, to produce food in cities while supporting eachother, with support of technology. When we focus on women we are focusing more than in individuals: we are addressing the whole community. Human and digital technology can change through knowledge, education and connection based on food and trust.

IMPACTS

• structure a methodology that can be scaled and replied in other cities of Brazil and in the world

• build a network of experts and partners of support

• large access of app from women in different neighborhoods and with different social and economic realities (1st phase)

• empower women in being agents of social change

• access of app and network creation in other countries (international scale) with exchange of recipes globally and building of groups of trust

• increase food production in low income communities

track where downloads are being done in app store - the app is downloaded in different neighborhoods in Rio and other brazilian cities

creat the hashtag #eusouanna (#iamanna) to be posted everytime someone applies their knowledge in practice and keep track on it - have impacts after the classes on food within the communities

connect the app with social media like whatsapp for opening group conversations / have an annual ANNA meeting where women can re-meet and share - have a trusting network that stays after the presencial programme is done

there are empowering focused projects for gender equity and it also exists many projects focusing on sustainable and healthy eating. Anna is unique when it connects trust and thrive, food and support, adressing social, environmental and healthy issues through a combining structure of digital and human technology. It is systemic and centered on people rather than on product, building the basis for an independent and individual path of connection and thrive where: either starting a living from food production or by simply changing self-perception and increasing trust and empathy.

The whole project is imagined for and with people as developers. The digital technology will only make sense if people meet, if the first group of women has their classes on food and meet their "mentors" for human thrive and empowerment. To base a whole project on trust, the app must be a technology for support, and the objective is to design it in collaboration with both partners and the first selected group of women: the warriors. Anna is a platform for change and its success totally depends on human use and engagement.

ONLINE

Free download with log-in: womens only. need of a valid email, and recommendation from an Anna or a partner institution.

online lecture & meeting: available for free. To participate, members receive notification for online access. We will invite each Anna to invite neighbors to attend to lectures together, reducing the risk on non attendance of women.

OFFLINE

Anna members are notified on the meetings and lectures. The available places are announced and the first signing up have reservation for attendance. In some meetings places will be available for non-Annas to attend.

Comida do Amanhã is on its starting moment. Until now, all the resources are from personal savings of the founder. It is starting its approach as a consultancy project, where the earnings for consultancy will be reinvested in developing social and environmental driven projects. 

The plan is also to structure the project ANNA for a strong fundraising on both international organizations and business as sponsors for the APP and digital features. 

It is also being designed some products to be sold connected with the purpose of Comida do Amanhã to support the ongoing projects. 

DEVELOPMENT: Lack of resources (financial and human) to develop it and have the needed time to monitor and coordinate the evolution and the implementation. 

ENGAGEMENT: Difficulties connected with how to engage with women and make them see ANNA as an important network and food as potential helpful for thrive

IMPLEMENTATION: high levels of violence in low income communities can risk the potential for implementation of food production. also a resistance to the project from man may difficult its acceptance and implementation. 

https://www.facebook.com/comidadoamanha/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/m%C3%B3nica-guerra-rocha-179b8289/

https://www.instagram.com/comidadoamanha/

ANNA is a project totally oriented as an human centered perspective that needs technology and partnership to succeed. It is the first product solution within Comida do Amanhã and results from a serial of meetings ans testing in topics that made understandable that addressing women empowerment and food together is very powerful and impactful. But we are not experts in app development, it is the first solution to e piloted and we aim to scale it. SOLVe can help with it all, connect us with mentors, leaders and changemakers and make this dream becoming real. 

Museum of Tomorrow (founding partner); Rio+centre, Akatu Institute, Claramente, Caipirismo, PERSONARE, Samba Filmes, Yemisi, Maré de Sabores, Casa Naara, Virada Sustentável (https://www.comidadoamanha.org...)