CASA JAYA UDJA

Casa Jaya Udja was created by Jaya Cruz in 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as a social business initiative founded on the principles of sustainability, collaborative economy, connection to ancestry and personal and social transformation through the expressive-arts. It aims to solve issues of women's health, nutrition, and professional skills training in collaborative and creative ways. With its focus on assisting in the release of painful memories and the promotion of self-care, it strives to be a safe space for self-knowledge and emancipation. Casa Jaya Udja is a welcoming place where women can express themselves through art and access knowledge about menstrual health, conception, nutritional education, and agroecology.

Menstrual poverty affects thousands of school-age girls. Without access to tampons, water, or soap, many girls resort to using various unsafe types of tissue and toilet paper, crumbs of bread, or cotton. With the global Covid-19 crisis, many families have had to survive on donations of food, water and hygiene products, but it is not always enough. 

In partnership with several projects that also support women and advocate for urban vegetable gardens in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Casa Jaya has served young people and adults alike with dance activities, learning circles on gynecological and emotional health, ancestral self-care practices, and education on cooking and vegetable gardening. 

“The financial support I received from Golden Bridge/Golden Girls Global made it possible to support some people with food, internet, water and online activities. I personally got infected by Covid and received emotional and financial support, which saved my life. I receive the benefit of participating in Soma Source training and Golden Girls Global, improving my leadership and organization skills, helping me to understand that I was on the right path and to have a broader vision of where I could take my projects.” - Jaya Cruz, creator of Casa Jaya Udja 

Recent Challenges 

• With the global health crisis due to Covid-19, the lock-down, and generalized fear and uncertainty about the future, many girls do not have access to the internet, so much so that it became almost impossible to keep in touch. 
• Partnerships for food production ceased making it impossible to deliver food. Many projects and partner collectives closed their doors.
  

Major Accomplishments 

• Online meetings offering encouragement during the Covid crisis through dance and literature were held with those women who were able to access the internet. It was possible to deliver some ready-to-eat foods and gallons of water to some families and people without homes. 
• Some basic school materials for classes and internet access were delivered. 

Goals for next year 

• Obtain a physical space where girls and women can access safe shelter, food education, vegetable gardens, self-care, art, and development of their strengths and skills.
• Partner with food professionals and culinary schools. 
• Provide gardening and kitchen equipment. 
• Offer free health and cooking programs.
• Take social action to face menstrual insecurity. Provide hygiene kits for girls in vulnerable situations. Offer educational ebook/prints on menstrual cycle and self-care so that girls do not have to miss school in 2022.   
• Promote team building activities.