Our Flagship Project
Friends of the Warao’s flagship work centers on OKO WARAO NONA ANONAMO, meaning “working together as Warao artisans”, a community-led initiative launched in December 2024 in partnership with the International Institute of Brazilian Education. The project was designed to strengthen Nona Anonamo Tuma, a Warao artisan cooperative network, and expand sustainable economic opportunities in the greater Belém region of Brazil.​
The project focused on workshops, market access, and the overall strengthening of the cooperative. Through consultant-led training, support for participation in local markets and fairs, and coordination across communities, the project helped build the systems needed for artisans to work collectively and generate income.
Warao community members and project partners meeting to review and approve plans for the Oko Warao Nona Anonamo project before its launch in Belém, Brazil
OKO WARAO NONA ANONAMO
OKO WARAO NONA ANONAMO ran from December 2024 through November 2025 and brought together artisans from ten Warao communities to form Nona Anonamo Tuma, meaning We are all artisans. The cooperative comprises more than 150 Warao women and men, who produce traditional, handcrafted goods.
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The project was guided by Warao community leadership. The Warao Ojiduna Council selected three Aidamos to serve as Warao consultants. Josefina, Marilluz, and Gardenia were chosen to represent their communities, provide guidance on local priorities, and help coordinate workshops and collaboration among artisan groups.
Working alongside an experienced artisan consultant, the Aidamos supported skill sharing in traditional techniques using buriti fiber and micanga beads, strengthened communication across communities, and helped shape a cooperative model grounded in shared leadership and cultural knowledge.
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Friends of the Warao supported the project by raising $9,100 to fund raw materials, consultant support, and the logistical costs required to carry out workshops and market participation across communities. These investments expanded pathways to consistent income for Warao families while reinforcing a community-driven cooperative model.
Community Workshops
Warao women gathered at the Tapanã shelter in Belém, practicing beadwork and improving traditional handicraft skills during a community workshop as part of Oko Warao Nona Anonamo Tuma.
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2024 - 2025 Images and Video Gallery!
Some pictures of our artisans hosting different workshops in Warao communities and selling handicrafts at events
Warao artisans selling handcrafted goods at a local market supported through the OKO WARAO NONA ANONAMO project
Annual Food Campaign
In addition to our flagship project we host an annual food campaign with the Warao communities in partnership with Conectar, a Brazilian nonprofit, and Thyago Almeida, a social worker in Belem. To continue this campaign we must raise an additional $800 annually to cover the cost of materials.
