To travel on the roads of the world, it is also to halt for some time in countries, cities, villages, which need assistance, which need us.
Our round the world tour is centered on the desire to involve ourselves into the local life, thanks to the conduct of various projects that touch with the culture, the education of the new generations and the economy of the countries that we cross. We want to be active and put ourself at the service of the people in the need of our knowledge for a better future.
The project title of my mission was `Community work with children', i.e. to work with children from the favelas. A little vague, but completely different from the project titles of my volunteers colleagues missions which were `to renovate the favelas', and 'to work in a nursery in a favela'.
The first week, the 4 of us had the same timetable, and we spent our time observing rather than acting. This week of adaptation was however necessary and enabled to us to familiarize ourselves with the 2 favelas where we will work thereafter:
Two to three afternoon per week, I spent my time playing with 6-15 year olds at their favorite games: quemado (the ball with the prisoners), chiky bondeiras (no possible translation), and futchibol (football).
In the semi covered courtyard of the favela, while playing we had to learn how to avoid the dog excrements on the concrete ground and to inhale the weed relents from the traffickers smoking on the side.
After 10 minutes of play, the children quickly get over-excited and become… uncontrolable. They like to provoke one another, fight, tease, and dance this funny dance/smurf famous in the baily funk parties (I loved to watch them dancing!).
Due to the environment they live in, the kids have a wild character. They are surrounded by violence and many relationships are based on strenght, domination and power. To get respect I had to impose myself with authority or play the same teasing games they were all playing. As teasing and showing off is also part of my personality I got integrated with no difficulty and became quickly one of the first to be picked when it came to form the teams! On the contrary to these poor English girls who spent the majority of their quemado games behind the prisoner line, arms crossed...
We also spent some afternoon walking outside the favela, enjoying the wonderful nature. Tropical forest, cascades etc...
I thus had to 'fight' to organise my timetable and defend the project title of my mission, which I had paid much more than my colleagues involved into the building renovation. If I had remained my arms crossed I would have spent my time following my coordinator Charliche without knowing much what to do. Like in life one's should always move his %c* to succeed!
At first angry against the agency i2i (business business), I was then glad to be able to mix several missions and consequently see more facets of the life of the favela people. At a rate of 3/4 days per week, I took part in the following activities: -
- Sports activities and walkss outside the favelas with the kids from Prazeres
- Painting biuldings in the main street of the favela Julio Otoni
- Teach English to teenagers in Prazeres
Favela Julio Otoni: with approximately 5.000 inhabitants, this favela is considered small. It is located in the district of Santa Teresa, and is relatively calm with regards to drug traffic, although, on our 3rd day of work, Charles tells me that this same day some kids were trying their guns in the favela shooting on empty cans...
Favela Prazeres : with more than 10.000 inhabitants, Prazeres is the highest favela of Rio and is located at a strategic location when it comes to drug trafficking. In 1998, more than 300 died in the favela when war was declared against the nearby traffickers. Inside the favela, we feel less at ease than Julio Otoni, and can sense a tough climate and tensions between the people.
I begin my first day of 'work' on the beach. Charles (pronounce `Charleeche'), our project coordinator, had taken along about fifteen children from the favelas to the Flamengo beach, a 10 minute walk from our house. With the 3 other volunteers we start playing with the children, and we can immediately feel that they have a lot of energy to discharge and that put aside the language barrier they will hard to control!
Charles is very dynamic and commited, but somewhat disorganised. He asked for 4 volunteers, but at the time he got them he was not very sure of what to make with them! During the holiday season, the artistic and sports centres are closed, and the children prefer to hang around rather than learn English with foreigners who speak their language with difficulty.
We then had to take some initiatives and cast out some ideas to finally agree on a time and working schedule.
I had to fight to convince Charliche that giving English classes to the kids could be useful, but finally made my point. He thought first that the problem was continuity, as once the volunteers are gone the kids loose everything. I think personally that any course is good to take, and especially for those who learn English at school and actually want to learn. Also it is important to teach the kids the importance of foreign language, how much an asset it can be when mastered.
At the favela of Prazeres, we gathered a small group of 14/16 years old who had already taken some courses at school. Two mornings per week, I gave them English courses in the community centre of the favela, using 'whatever was available'. Tiny blackboard, no book, no audio-visual support, noise around. But as a volunteer, we learn to cope, and by a way or another we always get to where we aim to end.
After 4 weeks of classes I was satisfied with the course. The children, although undisciplined, were voluntary and assimilated several concepts very well. They also understood the importance of learning a foreign language, and that besides being able to flirt with foreign girls they will also be able to find a better work!
It was hard though to see all these children with strong potentials, but victims of the environment in which they live. They can succeed in life but are constantly braked (not to see blocked) by the system of the favelas.
As for my volunteering experience in Mali, even if my action was limited and negligible compared to the needs of the people, I think that it was very well worth it. Cumulated with the actions of other volunteers and social actors, I believe that my action can make a difference for some, helping them 'to stand out'. In the toughness of daily life of young people and adults, we bring them a little cheerfulness and support. For the children, we show them the vision of a better life, and above all of a world which is finally accessible.
At first I was not very happy with my painting duties. Not because it is a rather repetitive job but because I was supposed to do something else which seemed to me more important. But after a few layers, looking at the environment and sensing the impact on the people around, I actually liked it very much and was glad to wake up in the morning to get dirty painting the whole day!
Charliche, at the last favela neighbourhing association meeting, had promised the inhabitants that the main street of their favela was going to be relooked to appear merrier and less dirty and sad. This decision was a real success!
At one or two days a week, we re-painted the front facades of every house on the main street of Julio Otoni favela. In blue, yellow, pink, orange, each street section had its own color. The result was very satisfactory, and very gratifiant as during our work we could se the people very chuffed and excited to see their houses repainted in color. The children came to help out, some adults offered us drinks and ice creams, and the drug traffickers struggled to hide their smiles. Even if we were on their territory, they saw that we were making good to their favela, and that we were inoffensive to their business.
An interesting anecdote: Charliche had previosuly agreed with the traffickers that the houses were to be painted in different colors, but in long sections of ten houses so that the police could not pinpoint the drug places and easily locate them by a color.
