Rodrigues Family and the Rubber Doctor
Epitaciolândia, AC
Phone number:
+55 68 9 9986 0369
Email:
drdaborracha(at)hotmail.com
type of Projects:
TURISM, COMMERCE, EDUCATION
Dicover the Rubbers Doctor channels
and the Seringal Inn
About us
One of the most iconic and Brazilian figures in our country is the rubber tapper: their history of struggle against hunger, the devastation of the Amazon, and certain unjust policies. These true guardians of the forest, often forgotten by the rest of Brazil, remind us of the importance of our relationship with trees. An ancient and fundamental relationship in a country named after a type of wood from its forest, the Brazilwood. José Rodrigues de Araújo is one of these tree-men. His work is much more than an economic and artistic activity: it is also the safeguarding of Brazilian culture. Since he was ten years old, he has been a rubber tapper, and for about fifteen years, he has also been an artisan and manufacturer of latex shoes, living in the middle of the forest, unable to read, never having been to school, without a computer, but he is a Master in making rubber sandals from the extraction of latex sap from the Acre rubber trees. Thanks to a course offered by UnB (University of Brasília), he learned a technique in which 'latex sheets' are produced, the so-called Semi-Artifact Sheets (FSA). "Then came the creativity to transform this into handicrafts: bags, key chains, necklaces... until we reached sandals," explains José, or Rubber Doctor, as he is known.
His wife, Delcilene, brought the feminine perspective and colors to the process. A powerful and creative way to bring a bit of forest culture to urban centers in Brazil and around the world. Today, they both host a group of eight artisans in their workshop and promote the local economy through the purchase of latex from other rubber tappers in the region.
José, or Rubber Doctor, carries a dream in his heart, which is to safeguard the forest, the rubber trees, knowing that the world recognizes and admires his profession, which was that of his father, his grandfather, and is today, an important profession for many others: rubber tappers.
Objectives
With NOSSO, we want to build the Rubber Tapper Museum here on our land, refurbish the houses where it all began, so that we can educate not only children and apprentice craftsmen, but also all visitors and passersby. We want them to understand our history and our value, for art, culture, the economy, and well-being in the world. With the Museum ready, we want to welcome visitors to our space and contribute even more to education. We are also partners in the construction of CSARTE (Community Sustaining Craft) initiated by NOSSO with us.
1st Phase
2nd Phase
3rd Phase
- Structural support for the construction of the Rubber Tapper Museum
- Design of immersive tourism programs and projects based on existing activities and knowledge
- English classes focused on tourism for group members
- Inclusion in the CSARTE program (Community Sustaining Craft)
- Inclusion of youth in the NEXXT platform for technical training
Total: R$ 240,000.00
-Planting of rubber trees through financing of seedlings and supplies
-Agroforestry training and collective efforts in forest maintenance
-Structural improvement including bathrooms, chalets, and natural spa areas
Total: R$ 340,000.00
- Training cycle including topics: group management and organizational processes, digital inclusion, pricing strategies, hospitality, financial management, and sales
- Design, structuring, and development of educational modules for schools, companies, and organizations based on forest wisdom.
Total: R$ 320,000.00
