We share a powerful testimony from Claudia, a community member from PDS Esperança in Brazil, whose life was transformed by the leadership of Sister Dorothy Stang, SNDdeN. This intimate reflection shows how Sister Dorothy's deep faith in the interconnectedness of people and creation inspires communities two decades after her death.
A Vision Beyond the Future
"Dorothy was a woman who saw beyond the future," Claudia begins, her voice filled with reverence. In the communities of the Brazilian Amazon, where opportunities were scarce, Sister Dorothy recognized that education was key to breaking cycles of poverty and displacement.
As Claudia explains, young people in their region had few choices. They would migrate to cities seeking work or education, often never returning. Their parents would then abandon their land to follow their children, fragmenting communities and threatening the precious relationship between people and the rainforest.
Creating Sustainable Communities
Sister Dorothy's response was both practical and profound. She established teacher training courses for parents and created pathways for youth to study agricultural techniques, ensuring they could return to help their communities. "For me, as a woman, it was privilege and pride to be able to go, study and come back to help my community," Claudia shares.
Sister Dorothy's care extended beyond organizing educational opportunities. She wrote letters to students away from home, followed up with school administrators and maintained personal connections. This attentiveness embodied her understanding that all life is interconnected - as she often said, "The death of the forest is the death of us all."
A Legacy of Faith that Transformed Community
Claudia's work with the women's movement and the Sustainable Development Project reflects how Sister Dorothy's vision took root. These initiatives merged environmental stewardship with social justice, recognizing that the well-being of people and the rainforest cannot be separated.
The video concludes with Claudia recounting the tragic day of Sister Dorothy's assassination on February 12, 2005. She describes the profound loss of "our north star," yet her story is ultimately one of resilience and continuing hope.