Dona Neli moved to Monlevade as a young girl in the 1930s, because she had heard that Belgo Mineira would offer good work and housing facilities.

In Monlevade, she was living in very humble conditions and housing in a small shack by the river.

Dona Neli fell in love with Wladyslaw Cekiera, the son of a Polish engineer, a tall and white boy with blond hair.

They were crazy in love and, despite all the obstacles caused by the boy’s family due to her racial and social background, the couple eventually got married in 1945.