How to diversify the economy, strengthen identity, boost self-esteem, and reintegrate into the São Paulo economy a region that was once the most prosperous in Brazil and today has one of the lowest Human Development Indexes (HDI) in the state?
How do you decode the soul of a territory and transform it into a development plan?
This is the central question in our work at Garimpo de Soluções. At the invitation of Sebrae-SP, a partner who shares the vision that there are no ready-made formulas, we dived into the challenge of the “Valley of Stories.”
Our unique approach, given the complexity of 9 municipalities, was one of deep immersion. This strategic “stitching” is only possible thanks to the generosity and wisdom of the artisans, entrepreneurs, masters of knowledge, and community leaders who opened their doors to us. They are not just part of the process; they are the source and the protagonists of this plan.
By connecting these local narratives with a vision for the future, we designed, through collective intelligence, a development plan that is not ours, but belongs to the territory itself. The result, which can be seen in this video, consists of 21 strategic actions that emerge from the local identity to generate prosperity.
A huge thank you to Sebrae-SP for trusting in our methodology and, especially, to the community of the Valley for allowing us to help tell their next story. This work was coordinated by Ana Carla Fonseca and Alejandro Castañé, with the luxurious participation of Eduardo Callera Pedrosa, Fabíula Domingues, Mariana Aldrigui, Wilber Rossini, and the Coop Audiovisual team, led by Victor Yagyu.
