Economia solidária: a realidade do centro de convivência e cultura de Natal

Abstract

This is a descriptive and exploratory research with a qualitative approach whose objective was to understand and map the Solidarity Economy initiatives produced by Cecco de Natal/RN. Data collection was made in June 2024 with user’s contribution, just like their families and professionals who work in the service, who answered a sociodemographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview script. The data from the questionnaire were analyzed based on descriptive statistics to characterize the research subjects and the statements in the light of Bardin's Content Analysis. Among 16 participants in the research, most were women, with an average age of 39.8 years. About the professionals, most were psychologists, with an average of one year and nine months working in the service. The following categories emerged from the speeches: I - Solidarity economy and the interface with mental health and II - Solidarity economy at CECCO: reality, possibilities and fragilities. It is concluded that the solidarity economy initiatives carried out at Cecco are incipient and permeated by difficulties regarding structural shortage, lack of resources and disarticulation of the RAPS, however they raise autonomy and collaborate with the resocialization of users.