On Monday, June 4th, our entire CSC team traveled by bus to Goiana (60 miles from Recife), where we were introduced to another of the Casa Da Crianca Projects - The Nassau Social Centre.
Homes in this poor rural village are very small and basic, often without bathrooms...and no one from this village has ever gone to college/university. This project was put in place 5 years ago to bring socio-economic and cultural development...it has been fully integrated and helps to sustain a village where fishing for crabs, oysters and other shellfish are the main sources of livelihood for about 7,000 residents.
The Social Centre has been built through the franchise of Casa Da Crianca and there are 200 students who go to the centre every day. In this village the schools are small so children go either in the morning or the afternoon. When they are not at school they attend this beautifully built centre which has been purpose built for the children. Bright buildings with white tiles, music rooms, art classes for making statues, boxes, baskets . All of these are made from recycled materials or natural resources - newspaper, recycled paper, banana fibres, onion and garlic skins.
What this project provides to these teenagers has many levels. An opportunity to learn new skills in either craft or music, or dance. Which in turn provides them a way of making money to bring to their families. The crafts that they produce are sold in shops in Recife and are also exhibited and sold at trade fairs. The teenagers make their own business plan, organize their finances, and share the profit. This is the only opportunity for them to make money. For those who take music and dance, they are also able to make money performing in bands or dance troops .
There is also an effect in the family home where the children are able to share their aspirations and help their families to see possibilities that they had never seen before.
These children now have dreams of a future that could be better for them and their families. In spite of the odds against them, 3 of the students have now gone to university, a reality beyond their dreams .
We spent the day watching and being shown how to make the statues which are made from paper and water, no glue. Also we each made a box from natural fibres, with help from the experts! What struck me during our visit there was the complete professionalism of the children in everything they did, they are so proud of their achievements.
While walking around the centre, I came across a group of girls...despite our lack of a shared language, they were able to teach me how to dance Frevo. After that, I found my way into one of the music rooms where some of the students were practising, and was treated to a percussion lesson....what a great day!
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