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the only woman serving among 24 other secretaries.Through Chapéu de Palha Mulher, she integrated thework of different departments and more than 40 women’sorganizations, helping to strengthen the relationship betweenthe government and civil society.“We wanted the women to learn how to take better care oftheir bodies, so we called upon the health secretariat. Wewanted them to learn how to read and write, so we calledon the education secretariat,” Cristina says. “However, thepeople working on the ground were in the local women’sorganizations. We knew their participation was crucial.”In addition to learning new skills, the programme broughtwomen together. Many, like Angela, who chose to identifyherself by first name only, found a sense of community withinthe classroom.“My husband would beat me constantly,” Angela says, whoescaped her abusive marriage. “I never had anyone to turnto. Now I know I can count on these women.”Nearly 100,000 women have participated in the programmesince 2007, which has expanded to 89 municipalitiesin Pernambuco to include rural women working in fruitplantations and artisanal fishing. There are also plans toopen a school in the town of Pesqueira, where courses will beoffered year-round.Cristina resigned from the Secretariat last August shortly aftera fatal plane crash killed presidential candidate EduardoCampos, the former governor who first appointed her tooffice.“I’m proud of the work I did in the secretariat, but it was time forme to move on,” Cristina says. She is hopeful that the work willbe continued under the new governor, Paulo Câmara and thenew Secretaria da Mulher, Silvia Cordeiro. Silvia comes to theSecretariat having led one of the local women’s organizationsthat has been so instrumental to the programme’s success.Back in the sleepy town of Escada, Maria examines thewater valve she recently installed in her shower. Her homehas become the canvas on which she practices the skills shelearned in Chapéu de Palha Mulher.“We were having problems with the electricity, so I fixed it,”Maria says. “I also worked on the plumbing. My next projectwill be laying down ceramic tile in the kitchen and bathroom.”Photo: UN Women/Lianne Milton“The people working onthe ground were in the localwomen’s organizations.We knew their participationwas crucial”She has also begun remodeling a neighbour’s home withone of her Chapéu de Palha Mulher classmates.“I love looking at the repairs in my house and other jobsand knowing that I am the one who did them,” Maria says,as she opens the faucet in the kitchen and lets the waterrun. “I am the one who fixed this, I did this with my owntwo hands.”Story: Flora Charner. For more information on Chapeu de Palha Mulher see Cornwall 2015, 2012 and A Quiet Revolution (https://vimeo.com/44520506).21