Changing projects

On Wednesday I finished my work on project #1 at the Salesian school. It was a fun day. Sr Isabel held an English quiz and gave some British touristy stationary away as gift, that the children loved (and fought over). Rachel brought some face paints and made a mess. I helped teach some kids 9-square; a game learnt whilst I was on NET in the US. The kids were reluctant at first to learn a new game, but they loved it once we got going. Thanks to a kind donation from a woman in my home Parish of Holy Apostles, Norwich, I was able to buy some things for the kids, as requested by her. A brand new football was a highlight. We also bought ingredients to make cornflake cakes for the children, which they loved. I was somewhat sad to leave the place, only because your hit with the reality that you'll probably never see those smiles again. I remembered that feeling from NET, when I'd grow close to the teens over the duration of a retreat, then pack and leave accepting that those friendships could not continue. It's tough to leave, but the fun shared and things learnt throughout make it well worth it: a total gift from God. 

On Thursday, we cancelled our planned swap day, where the two respective groups would change projects. Reason being that transport strikes were expected, and protests were planned for the afternoon. To stay safe, we remained at home. I spent the day in Santa Teresa's cafes and bars, with a spot of shopping and sightseeing. That evening, in the chapel, I heard the sound of helicopters flying low, and what sounded like explosions. I headed to the roof of the convent, with a good view over the city. There were 5 helicopters up there above Largo do Machado, and I spent perhaps an hour up there looking at the buildings being illuminated now and then with orange glows, bangs following shortly after, as crowd dispersion bombs were fired, and people shot fireworks and threw molotovs. Went asleep to the same sounds, though distant and muffled by my earplugs.

On Friday we started on the new projects. An early start, with a bus at 645am, we arrived at the location an hour later, 2 bus rides away: a day centre for street children. We ate breakfast with the staff: simple bread and butter, hot chocolate and coffee (so sweet and sugary you can barely taste the coffee). 

I brought my own honey for the bread. Shortly after, Rachel and I headed out in a VW hippie van with the driver and another staff member to pick up the street children. This is the usual routine. We head to the central bus station in brazil to pick the kids up. They tend not to take late teens. The kids sleep rough on the floor, often in groups, with dogs too. Simple cardboard beds with blankets, huddled next to a wall, kiosk, under a shelter etc. - anywhere really. The staff will go over and wake the kids up, who are often still a bit high from drug use. The kids will then head back to the centre for food, showers, and activies, leaving for the streets again in the the afternoon. Today was different, however. Today there were no kids. This was very unusual, and the staff at the AMAR centre suspected the kids had been taken in by police because of the protests the night before. Being street children, they often steal to get food, and to pay for drugs also. The protests are a prime opportunity to do so, as well as loot if the opportunity arises. They were probably take somewhere by police, perhaps an overnight prison, until the protests blew over. The staff said they thought they saw some of the kids on the news the next day. And so, after circling the bus station with no luck, we returned to the centre. One boy turned up on foot; Weslan. I'd heard a lot about him from the other team. A real gentle character, with good manners. Quiet, humble, polite... You wonder how someone like this ends up on the street? He left home because there wasn't enough money in the family for him to be fed, according to the leader of the project. It was his choice. We spent the day playing table football, football, and finished it with a trip to the zoo. I'm looking forward to getting to know him more next week, as well as the kids I am yet to meet. 

This weekend, World Youth Day pilgrims will begin to fill the rooms of the convent here, and arrive in Rio from all corners of the globe for their days in the diocese - an opportunity for visitors to see the Brazillian church in its norm before the event really kicks off on the 23rd. As a group, we plan to go to Cristor Statue on Saturday, and Copacabana Beach (once again!) on Sunday.

Some photos from the first project are below...

Me with Juruna - a teacher I made friends with at the school. Real cool guy. Always chilled:

Table football - the kids are lethal at this!:

A quick snap with some of the boys before I left the school. The lad on the left was great - he would always come up and hug me. Very full of love and joy.