Holding a degree in Sociology and a master\u2019s and a PhD in Political Science from the University of S\u00e3o Paulo (USP), Calfat worked for nearly ten years in foreign trade. She dealt with the export of commodities and had Arab countries among her commercial partners. When business with the Arabs began to be replaced by clients in Brazil and South America, the sociologist decided to return to academia. She participates in a working group on the Middle East at USP and her research areas and interests include power-sharing, minority veto, sectarianism, the Lebanese political system, and Shiism.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Meeting](\"https:\/\/anba.com.br\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/WhatsApp-Image-2024-12-16-at-11.14.48-1024x768.jpeg\")
Earlier this year, she worked as a researcher on the paper \u201cBrazil-Lebanon South-South Cooperation in Key Sectors: The Way Forward in the World of Work \u2013 South-South Meeting Point,\u201d prepared by the International Labor Organization (ILO).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At ICArabe, she held various positions before being chosen as president: international relations director, administrative director, cultural director, and secretary-general\u2014stages of a career that began about ten years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I joined like most young people who became interested in the institute, which was through the cultural production that it promotes, through activities and courses. Little by little, I got more involved, naturally in a voluntary way, to help with the dissemination of culture, the promotion of knowledge, and the organization of events,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A fundamental part of ICArabe\u2019s mission is to promote Arab culture in its various aspects\u2014as there are 22 Arab countries\u2014expand knowledge about the Arab world and share with society what is being produced in the cultural and scientific fields.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ICArabe and contemporary artistic production<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n\u201cI believe that\u2019s exactly what we need to rethink. I mean, not to deny the political instability that exists in the Arab world, but what kind of cultural production is made from such instability? The film festival, for example. What kind of literary production, what kind of poetry is being made?\u201d says Calfat, about ICArabe\u2019s role in providing these answers to society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Part of the answers, she says, will come with a medium- and long-term plan for the institution, along with the expansion of some ICArabe activities, maintaining the Arab World Film Festival, an annual partnership between ICArabe, the ABCC, and CineSesc, that showcases contemporary Arab cinema production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOne of the major projects for the 2025\/2026 term is the resumption of courses, the revival of cultural events such as diwans<\/em>, which are events of poetry, prose readings, and music,\u201d she says, also mentioning as goals to establish more partnerships both within and outside of Brazil. Diwans<\/em> are also collections of poems or literary works of a Muslim nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\nCalfat is the second woman to preside over ICArabe. The first was pharmacist Soraya Smaili, a member of ICArabe\u2019s Superior Council and the ABCC\u2019s Board of Directors. At 40 years old, Calfat is one of the youngest to take the helm of the institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was a demand [from the institute] for the younger generation to be more involved and for a renewal. This is an internal demand of ours, and I think I represent a bit of that. It\u2019s important that we have a woman in a leadership position. I believe that at times I coordinated some functions in this regard, so let\u2019s say it\u2019s a path that\u2014having gone through various departments\u2014is kind of a crowning, a unification of the various strengths and challenges I encountered in these roles,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in October 2004, ICArabe resulted from an initiative of researchers and intellectuals dedicated to studying and promoting Arab culture, including mathematician Francisco Miraglia, geographer Aziz Nacib Ab’Saber (1924-2012), writer Milton Hatoum, journalist Jos\u00e9 Arbex Jr., and sociologists Ricardo Antunes, Emir Sader and Soraya Smaili. Over its 20 years of history, it has promoted the Arab culture through courses, exhibitions, and partnerships with various Brazilian institutions, such as the ABCC itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calfat says she intends to work with these institutions and the many intellectuals dedicated to promoting the culture of the Arab world. In addition to uniting people, she aims to promote ICArabe\u2019s activities beyond the Rio and S\u00e3o Paulo. \u201cThese people already know and meet each other, but there are several separate groups, a lot is being done,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more:
<\/em>Festival explores Arab world through art of cinema<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\nTranslated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n
Calfat is the second woman to preside over ICArabe. The first was pharmacist Soraya Smaili, a member of ICArabe\u2019s Superior Council and the ABCC\u2019s Board of Directors. At 40 years old, Calfat is one of the youngest to take the helm of the institute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere was a demand [from the institute] for the younger generation to be more involved and for a renewal. This is an internal demand of ours, and I think I represent a bit of that. It\u2019s important that we have a woman in a leadership position. I believe that at times I coordinated some functions in this regard, so let\u2019s say it\u2019s a path that\u2014having gone through various departments\u2014is kind of a crowning, a unification of the various strengths and challenges I encountered in these roles,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Founded in October 2004, ICArabe resulted from an initiative of researchers and intellectuals dedicated to studying and promoting Arab culture, including mathematician Francisco Miraglia, geographer Aziz Nacib Ab’Saber (1924-2012), writer Milton Hatoum, journalist Jos\u00e9 Arbex Jr., and sociologists Ricardo Antunes, Emir Sader and Soraya Smaili. Over its 20 years of history, it has promoted the Arab culture through courses, exhibitions, and partnerships with various Brazilian institutions, such as the ABCC itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Calfat says she intends to work with these institutions and the many intellectuals dedicated to promoting the culture of the Arab world. In addition to uniting people, she aims to promote ICArabe\u2019s activities beyond the Rio and S\u00e3o Paulo. \u201cThese people already know and meet each other, but there are several separate groups, a lot is being done,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read more: Translated by Guilherme Miranda<\/strong><\/p>\n
<\/em>Festival explores Arab world through art of cinema<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n