In 2022, Instituto Beja launched the Filantropando movement with the aim of creating spaces for concrete dialogue about the transformations needed to boost brazilian philanthropy. Based on revitalizing the ecosystem and introducing new ideas and practices, the movement seeks to stimulate the exchange and expansion of perspectives.
The initiative was conceived as a safe space for concrete dialogue on relevant, possible, and pertinent innovations, challenging topics that should be explored in greater depth, and the changes needed for the philanthropy ecosystem in Brazil. Among its main objectives is Instituto Beja’s desire to contribute to inspiring new ideas and practices that stimulate the exchange and expansion of perspectives in the field, as well as to enable a dynamic and immersive environment that encourages creative dialogue and interaction, in addition to collective action with new approaches.
Since its third edition, the movement has had the partnership of Instituto Toriba, represented by Graciela Selaimen.
The partnership, however, began in the second edition of Filantropando, held in 2023, in which Graciela was co-responsible for curating and facilitating.
“Filantropando offers a safe space to talk about topics openly and intensely. We talk about “oxygenating good deeds” because we seek to intentionally oxygenate relationships and the meeting place, with new formats for discussion and the way they are conducted. We seek to bring new concepts or ones that are already out there, but in different, more provocative formats, to attract and entice the audience to pay attention. These are not rehearsed lectures or conversations. They are spontaneous and profound dialogues with people from inside and outside philanthropy. Ideally, the audience should be surprised when talking about a challenging subject.”
Maria Vogt
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Innovation and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
“Every year, we do something very different from what we did the previous year, and with that, we always learn a lot. It’s as if we were always starting over, learning, but taking a step further in the next edition.”
Graciela Selaimen
Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba,
Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
Photo: Fernando Cavalcanti
The 4th edition of Filantropando: Cycle of Unlikely Dialogues
In addition to hosting COP 30, held between November 10 and 21, 2025, the city of Belém, in Pará, also hosted the 4th edition of Filantropando, with the Cycle of Unlikely Dialogues, an initiative of Instituto Beja, Instituto Toriba, and Instituto Clima e Sociedade.
The edition took place at a time when the world is calling for climate action rooted in justice and plurality. The Beja boat was the meeting point for seven rounds of conversation, organized into four “big waves,” connecting climate justice to themes such as territory, communication, imagination, and transformative financing.
“What brings us to COP is the need to create a space for reflection and the construction of a new way of thinking based on the struggles of the planet and the species, through the lens of diversity, so that philanthropy takes risks and deviates from paths that are wrongly taken for granted.”
Cristiane Sultani
Founder and Chair of the Board of Directors of Instituto Beja
“The idea of having ‘unlikely dialogues’ came about because the likely dialogues were already on the [COP] agenda, and we didn’t want to compete with that, nor did it make sense to do so. I always tell Beja that we need to question what our unique contribution is based on our singularity as an institution that is part of a field. In such a broad and contested agenda, we wanted a space that had a plurality of views, where very different people could engage in creative tension.”
Graciela Selaimen
Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba, Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
The main motivation for this edition of Filantropando was to propose a lively and symbolic space for encounters that would be unlikely to happen in traditional formats – and which, precisely for this reason, are urgent. The Beja and Toriba Institutes aimed to create, within the official COP agenda, an environment where unlikely alliances could emerge, strengthen, and project themselves into the future.
This is what happened during the seven days of meetings, which brought together more than 23 debaters, including leaders, scientists, activists, and artists. These unlikely dialogues enabled deep listening and genuine exchange.
debaters
around
WAVE 1
What sustains life
“Faith that moves mountains (and territories)”
How do faith, ancestry, and culture mobilize collective solidarity and sustainable practices in the defense and care of territories?
Speakers:
Ronilso Pacheco, political scientist and director of Instituto de Estudos da Religião (ISER)
Leila Borari, socio-environmental activist, co-founder of Associação de Mulheres Indígenas Suraras do Tapajós, and coordinator of cultural articulation at Instituto Amazônia de Pé
Moderator:
Graciela Selaimen, Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba, Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
“If we were to draw the map”
Speakers:
Alfredo Wagner, anthropologist and coordinator of the Nova Cartografia Social da Amazônia
Ruan Guajajara, geographer, master in Territorial and Environmental Management, member of the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (COIAB)
Moderator:
Eliane Brum, journalist and writer, founder of plataforma Sumaúma
WAVE 2
What drives resources
Financing, traceability and financial alliances
“When green turns white”
Identifying authentic systemic transformations beyond green aesthetics and cosmetic practices.
Speakers:
Julia Catão, coordinator of the Responsible and Sustainable Consumption program of Instituto de Defesa de Consumidores (Idec)
Maureen dos Santos, coordinator of the Policy and Alternatives Center at FASE (Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional) and the Socio-Environmental Platform at the BRICS Policy Center
Moderator:
Maria Netto, executive director of Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS)
“Dinheiro que brota do chão”
Financing and economic mechanisms that value territorial resources and generate dignity through innovative financial solutions.
Speakers:
Valéria Paye, leader of Fundo Podáali, Fundo Indígena da Amazônia Brasileira
Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of ONG Canopy
Marcelle Decothé, director of Strategy and Sustainability at the Iniciativa PIPA and co-founder of NARRA
Moderator:
Marcos Lopes, executive director of Tilt Collective in Brazil
WAVE 3
What breaks the silence
Narratives, communication, active listening and dissent
“Telling tomorrow in the present”
How narratives build futures and shape emerging realities, amplifying voices in the construction of sustainable paths for life on the planet.
Speakers:
Kamila Camilo, Black social entrepreneur, director of the Instituto Oyá and the Creators Academy initiative
Genevieve Hilton (Jan Lee), author of “Fairhaven – A Novel of Climate Optimism” and co-chair of the Energy & ESG committee at AmCham Hong Kong
Maickson Serrão, Tupinambá journalist and storyteller from the Amazon Rainforest
Moderator:
Graciela Selaimen, Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba, Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
WAVE 4
What builds tomorrow
Imagining, futures, climate governance, and popular diplomacy
“What if the South redesigned the COP?”
Emerging governance and decision- -making architectures from the Global South and their impacts on priorities, structures, and action timelines.
Speakers:
Daniel Calarco, founder and president of Observatório Internacional da Juventude
Caroline Rocha, director of Public Policy and Engagement at LACLIMA, co-founder of Rede Amazônidas pelo Clima
Mwanahamisi Singano, African feminist and director of Policy at the Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
Moderator:
Denise Dora, COP 30 Special Envoy for Human Rights and Just Transition
“Adaptation is now”
Innovative solutions that safeguard lives and territories in scenarios of accelerated climate change
Speakers:
Thuane Nascimento, executive director of Perifa Connection
Diosmar Filho, social scientist, coordinator of black epistemologies and climate policies, Instituto Iyaleta
Moderator:
Natalie Unterstell, founder of Instituto Talanoa
WAVE 1
What sustains life
Territory, spirituality, care and ancestry
“Faith that moves mountains (and territories)”
How do faith, ancestry, and culture mobilize collective solidarity and sustainable practices in the defense and care of territories?
Speakers:
Ronilso Pacheco, political scientist and director of Instituto de Estudos da Religião (ISER)
Leila Borari, socio-environmental activist, co-founder of Associação de Mulheres Indígenas Suraras do Tapajós, and coordinator of cultural articulation at Instituto Amazônia de Pé
Moderator:
Graciela Selaimen, Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba, Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
“If we were to draw the map”
Speakers:
Alfredo Wagner, anthropologist and coordinator of the Nova Cartografia Social da Amazônia
Ruan Guajajara, geographer, master in Territorial and Environmental Management, member of the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (COIAB)
Moderator:
Eliane Brum, journalist and writer, founder of plataforma Sumaúma
WAVE 2
What drives resources
Financing, traceability and financial alliances
“When green turns white”
Identifying authentic systemic transformations beyond green aesthetics and cosmetic practices.
Speakers:
Julia Catão, coordinator of the Responsible and Sustainable Consumption program of Instituto de Defesa de Consumidores (Idec)
Maureen dos Santos, coordinator of the Policy and Alternatives Center at FASE (Federação de Órgãos para Assistência Social e Educacional) and the Socio-Environmental Platform at the BRICS Policy Center
Moderator:
Maria Netto, executive director of Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS)
“Dinheiro que brota do chão”
Financing and economic mechanisms that value territorial resources and generate dignity through innovative financial solutions.
Speakers:
Valéria Paye, leader of Fundo Podáali, Fundo Indígena da Amazônia Brasileira
Nicole Rycroft, founder and executive director of ONG Canopy
Marcelle Decothé, director of Strategy and Sustainability at the Iniciativa PIPA and co-founder of NARRA
Moderator:
Marcos Lopes, executive director of Tilt Collective in Brazil
WAVE 3
What breaks the silence
Narratives, communication, active listening and dissent
“Telling tomorrow in the present”
How narratives build futures and shape emerging realities, amplifying voices in the construction of sustainable paths for life on the planet.
Speakers:
Kamila Camilo, Black social entrepreneur, director of the Instituto Oyá and the Creators Academy initiative
Genevieve Hilton (Jan Lee), author of “Fairhaven – A Novel of Climate Optimism” and co-chair of the Energy & ESG committee at AmCham Hong Kong
Maickson Serrão, Tupinambá journalist and storyteller from the Amazon Rainforest
Moderator:
Graciela Selaimen, Founder and Executive Director of Instituto Toriba, Consultant and Member of the Executive Committee of Instituto Beja
WAVE 4
What builds tomorrow
Imagining, futures, climate governance, and popular diplomacy
“What if the South redesigned the COP?”
Emerging governance and decision- -making architectures from the Global South and their impacts on priorities, structures, and action timelines.
Speakers:
Daniel Calarco, founder and president of Observatório Internacional da Juventude
Caroline Rocha, director of Public Policy and Engagement at LACLIMA, co-founder of Rede Amazônidas pelo Clima
Mwanahamisi Singano, African feminist and director of Policy at the Women’s Environment & Development Organization (WEDO)
Moderator:
Denise Dora, COP 30 Special Envoy for Human Rights and Just Transition
“Adaptation is now”
Innovative solutions that safeguard lives and territories in scenarios of accelerated climate change
Speakers:
Thuane Nascimento, executive director of Perifa Connection
Diosmar Filho, social scientist, coordinator of black epistemologies and climate policies, Instituto Iyaleta
Moderator:
Natalie Unterstell, founder of Instituto Talanoa
In addition to institutional partnerships, the 4th edition of Filantropando had a communication partnership with Gama magazine, responsible for transforming the conversation circles into a series of podcasts.
Check out all the productions.
