The Quelili project was started in 2022 with the aim to make it possible for activists and collectives to travel across continents to political camps, exchanges and protests without relying on the fossil fuel industry. In 2025 we finally had enough money to buy the Epicure, a 13 meter steel ketch that we want to use to give a platform to struggles related to climate justice and decolonization.
The boat is currently in Trinidad, off the coast of Venezuela. We would like to invite collectives who are planning to join the counter-summit of the COP30 in Belém, Brazil, to use the boat to travel to Belém and join the protests for climate justice there.
The boat can sleep 7 persons and accomodate a few more during the days. We would start travelling southwards along the coast of Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname and Brasil in October. Stops in harbours could be used for making events. This journey is not a cruise, it’s an adventure, facing wind and currents. Sailing from Trinidad to Brazil in September/October is possible, but it requires resilience and collective spirit. These months are a time of transition in the region, with some areas still touched by the tail end of the hurricane season. But with good planning, shared knowledge, and attention to the weather, the route can be safely navigated.
That said, this is not a journey for comfort-seekers. Life on board is collective, full of surprises, and often shaped by the wind, the sea, and what we have at hand. It’s also full of beauty, learning, and connection. If you’re ready to face the sea with curiosity, care, and courage – welcome aboard!
We operate on a low budget. Collectives sending delegates don’t need to pay (though contributions are of course welcome), but we cannot provide funds for food and other expenses of the participants. We will be trying to raise money in Europe ahead of the journey, but like in other moments, the crew will need to be creative. In the past, we’ve improvised street collections (like the one in Los Cristianos, Tenerife) or participants have spontaneously contributed from their own pockets. It’s not the model we dream of, but sometimes it’s the one reality calls for – and we try to meet it with mutual care and imagination.
We are especially inviting collectives which are self-organized, and have feminist and anti-capitalist values. Since the number of places is limited it would be good if some of those participating have experience in creating media output (writing texts, posting videos, etc), so that the journey can be used to raise awareness for the work of the involved groups, the counter-summit and the Quelili project itself.
Please spread this call to groups that might be interested. If you would like to join please write us to quelili@riseup.net before August 15. Please include some information about your group, links to Instagram, Tiktok, etc; how many people you would like to send and any relevant experience with boats or media production.