Artisans from Manacapuru during a fair held in the municipality of Amazonas. Jadson Lima/g1 AM Crafts became part of the routine of women who found the activity an opportunity to generate income in Manacapuru, in the interior of Amazonas. Patients undergoing cancer treatment, single mothers, indigenous people and victims of domestic violence are among the artisans who participated, this month, in a fair held in the municipality. The space also brought together professionals who followed other careers, but maintained crafts as a parallel activity. While some women began producing out of necessity, others turned a lifelong talent into money. Among them is artisan and social advisor Aurinete Alves de Oliveira, who began producing handcrafted pieces 16 years ago, during treatment for breast cancer. While participating in meetings with other patients at the Fundação Centro de Oncologia do Amazonas (FCecon), she decided to learn how to do fuxico, a technique produced with tissue scraps, to stop talking about the disease. ? Join the g1 AM channel on WhatsApp "We decided we didn't want to talk about cancer anymore. We went to buy material and started gossiping", he recalls. Festival brings together crafts, culture and environmental actions in Manaus The activity, which began as a way to occupy time during treatment, changed its trajectory. Currently, Aurinete teaches crafts workshops for women with anxiety, depression and cancer patients. For her, manual work also paved the way for many participants to start generating income. "If the Lord gives me a second chance at life, I will live to do something different. 16 years later, I am here helping other women", she says. Another participant at the fair is indigenous Ivanete Laborda, 33 years old, from the Apurinã people. A resident of the rural area of ??Manacapuru, she traveled by motorcycle to the city to take traditional graphics produced with genipap juice to the fair, a technique used by the indigenous people and which is also applied to bags, t-shirts and other handcrafted pieces. To g1, Ivanete said that each drawing represents part of the identity of the Apurinã people and helps keep indigenous culture alive. "Graphism is our cosmology. We show what it means and what it represents in our daily struggle", he said. For two years, she has participated in the Women Entrepreneurs Fair, where she sells products and expands the publicity of the work developed in the community where she lives. Retired teacher, Vera Lúcia da Silva, aged 64, is currently an artisan and produces biojewelry. She stated that her inspiration for crafts began in her work environment. She taught Arts at a school in Caapiranga when she became interested in crafts. I arrived in Manacapuru the year before last and went to the Social Assistance Reference Center (CRAS), where I enrolled in a course and started participating in the project. From then on I joined the fair. I started doing crafts on my own initiative and the course helped me", he said. Project brings together more than 80 artisans Artisan Rosângela Picanço, who coordinates the project aimed at women entrepreneurs, also found crafts a way to change her life. A solo mother, she started producing handmade cosmetics after her divorce. Last year Rosângela was diagnosed with cancer and, even during treatment, she continued working and today helps organize the fair. According to Rosângela, the initiative brings together around 80 artisans, including single mothers, cancer patients, indigenous women and victims of domestic violence. Many of them started producing handcrafted pieces after participating in qualification courses and found the activity an opportunity to earn income. "Some of them didn't know how to do anything. Today they learned a profession and are selling here", he says. In addition to selling products, the fair serves as a showcase for the work of artisans and is part of a project to encourage female entrepreneurship developed in the municipality. Last week, the event was part of Manacapuru's anniversary program and brought together crochet work, creative sewing, biojewelry, handmade cosmetics, indigenous graphics and other techniques produced by the participants. In total, R$46 thousand were raised. According to the municipal secretary of Policies for Women, Ariane Campello, the objective is to expand opportunities for artisans to strengthen their own businesses. "The fair is a showcase for sales and contacts. We seek to create opportunities for these women to present their work and increase income generation", he stated. Retired teacher, Vera Lúcia da Silva works in crafts. Jadson Lima/g1 AM