Bringing Joy to children's lives!

Last week was really stressful for me and sad with the police shootings. I decided I would go through some of the donations we received over the World Cup and make some kids happy. Most of what we have received is through the promotions of Pack For A Purpose. They encourage travellers to bring donations to developing countries and various projects. Normally I separate the donations into three groups, school supplies, art materials, games & toys. There are 4 projects we support by distributing these items.

Working in tourism has many benefits. Through my many contacts, I am in a position to help many people. I wish I could help the whole favela but I know thats not possible. If we all can help a little then everyone benefits.

Yesterday, I decided I would make "kits" for 15 children between the ages of 7-12 years old. The kits include, a notebook, a pen, a box of 12 colored pencils, a eraser and pencil sharpener. So, I packed up the 15 kits and went out into the streets of the favela with my friend Ana Paula Telles. She requested that we find children in her area. She works for a NGO called Fabrica Verde, here in the favela and know who the most needy children are. We started by walking through some of the alleyways close to her house. We stopped at several houses as she called out names of the children. They would then come to the door and we would give the child their kit. The smiles on these little faces were priceless. And the same from their parents, just awesome.

I will never forget the fundraising project we did with Jim Shattuck and Tio Lino about 6 years ago. Through tourism and Jim's fundraising expertise, we were able to buy 40 string back packs and fill them with school  supplies and then we gave them out to the kids at Tio's project. Again what an awesome feeling to see kids smile and happy that they have supplies for school. I want to do this again. But I would like to do it on a bigger scale. 

I wanted the kits to be given to children who I know were in school and who would appreciate this. The idea was also to spread a little happiness after the previous week of violence and sadness. I know I felt so much better too. Here are some photos of these awesome kids!!!! Enjoy! 

A sad week in Rocinha

Life in Rocinha with police presence. This photo was taken in the lower part of Rocinha, a area called Via Apia not far from the entrance to the community.

I get asked all sorts or questions in regards to living in the favela. Life is very complicated here and not as easy to explain. I like living here for the many good things but theres a bad side too. Favelas are marginalized communities and how the outside world views them is very different from the reality inside here. We have good and bad, just like any place.

People often talk about the violence and its causes. There are many, poverty, inequality in society, lack of opportunities, quality education and poor health care. Rocinha is one of the biggest favelas located in the South Zone of Rio de Janeiro. Last Sunday our favela experienced one whole week of violence marked by intense shootings between police and drug dealers inside the community.

On Monday November 11th around 5:30am,  there was a shootout for about 2.5 hours that left 3 people killed. I knew one of the people killed by a stray bullet and he was not involved in drug trafficking or crime. He was a 27 years old father of two young children who was a worker who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. I often wonder, when will this situation change for us here in these communities? I cannot accept the fact that society has refused our people the right to advance ourselves. This is true in that very few residents born in a favela ever end up moving out. I can not accept the fact that the slum dweller only has rights to be born to serve society in constructing the city and taking care of other peoples (rich & middle class) children and only to serve like one step up from slavery. Many may disagree but how can a person live on 750-1000 reais a month. Even living in a favela its not easy. We will not have peace here as long as we live in this misery and lack of opportunities to have a better life.

The "Pacification" of the favelas is not working. In Rocinha, every time there is a shooting, I write it down in my agenda book. Since January 2014 we have had about 38 shootings here. This doesn't include the shootings that happened that I did not hear myself. When the drug dealers were "in control", we would have maybe one or two shootings a year. Now its more like 2-3 shootings a week. Don't misunderstand as I am not trying to say that drug dealers are good, because they are not. All I can say is the truth and that is Rocinha is far more dangerous now than before the police came in here. Its awful because people are stuck in their houses and cannot go to work and children can not go to school. What kind of life is this? 

Now that the police are stationed inside the favela at certain areas, there's more possibility of being problems. The police walk through the community and now when they encounter drug dealers there are shootouts. This pacification idea needs to be changed. The problem is since favelas were formed, the previous military dictatorship, there has always been a mistrust of police and the government. This has to do with widespread corruption. And the poor are blamed for many social problems. Nobody chooses to be poor. The majority of favela residents are honest hardworking people who just make less money. Imagine being stigmatized just because you earn less money? But where does this originate? It comes from businesses that don't want to pay workers a decent wage. The rich and middle class talk about fear and dislike of favelas and its residents but only at the convenience of them does the favela serve it purpose..cheap slave like labor..as long as they have their access to their drugs, maids and doormen etc..then the favela is ok, otherwise we are ignored and despised. We are not the problem. The government and society has failed the people in the favelas! I live here and see so much potential and talent going to waste, all because of prejudice.

How can we change this? We need to speak out more about what our community needs are. We need to transform this idea of the favela being "a fabrica do marginal" or a factory of criminals. We need to get the residents together with good actions that can improve the quality of life with better public services.

Living in Rocinha has many challenges for our people. Elderly and disabled people can have much difficulty in walking here with improvised stairways and alleys that are not flat.

Children growing up in small houses that lack proper ventilation that they can get sick from mold created by the humidity. These same children going to public schools that lack proper materials or preparation for graduation. Lack of proper curicculum to develop our children in the hopes that they can go to university. How can a child go to school for 4 hours a day and get a proper education? Because of poverty, most kids will drop out of school around 15 to go to work to help support their families. Both parents working in jobs where they work 10-12 hours a day and spending less time with their families. I have the idea that many societies have this structure that the majority of the population is kept ignorant so that the elites can rule. If you keep the masses stupid, they are more easy to control. And best to keep them distracted by getting them to buy stuff they don't need and encouraging them to watch television, the best brainwashing tool ever invented. if poor people had the same opportunities of the middle classes they can then improve their own lives, but as long as businesses pay little wages, the poor have no choice. How can one improve their life if they don't have access to education so they can get better paying jobs?

Back to the government in the name of our community of about 300,000 people,we NEED to transform this idea where our favelas are at war. The schools and all educational and cultural projects need to be a priority. We need quality education that can prepare our youth the same opportunity to go on to university. Our children deserve this as we are part of the future of the country too. In Rocinha we have many social cultural projects that receive no help from any government organizations. Just last year the city government removed a school next to the Sport Complex that gave courses for those residents wanting to go on to university. This school was soon shut down and replaced by a police station. To me, that means the city sees police as more valuable then our people having access to bettering our lives through education. We need less guns (police) and more education.

Monday morning around 5:30 am police forces from the PM, CORE and BOPE and two helicopters ran an operation here to find drug dealers. Theres was intense shooting that woke me up. You could here grenades, machine gun fire and pistols being shot. It sounded like a war. The drug trade only continues in our favelas because the involvement of some corrupt police. These police know when are where the drugs are being sold. I live here and know where the guys sell their drugs and I'm sure the UPP's that are stationed inside here know too. The police put on this big show of force that interrupts our lives. How can we earn money and pay our way if we can not go to work because of a shootout in our favela? Often times these police kill many innocents as well. This is all a game the system plays to show the world that they are doing something  about the drug dealers. The question to ask is why do these young men sell drugs? Because for them, who have no other opportunity, they don't have a choice. Anywhere you go, as long as you have buyers of drugs there will be sellers. And this is worldwide and not only in favelas! Just take a walk on Ipanema beach as the sun goes down and you can see the rich smoking their marijuana without police abuse. But do the same in the favela and you could be killed by police!

This photo is the police and a resident carrying the body of my friend Mikael Patrick, 27 who was killed by a police bullet in the "Valao", which is a area at the bottom of Rocinha. He will be missed!

These are casings from bullets fired by the police. This was just one area of the favela but the shootings took place in about 5 different areas of the community.
I wonder, where do all the bullets go?

When will this stop? We are not against policing. What we want is a respectful police force that doesn't abuse us and treat us like we are all criminals, thats all!

Here is a video taken from a resident of Rocinha. Its a long video but you can get the idea of what its like here when there is an operation.

In Rocinha, all we want is peace and safety for all  residents!

Explanation of what we do!

Many people have emailed me asking information about the work we do here in Rocinha. I thought it best to write a full explanation so everybody has a better understand of our involvement in the community of Rocinha. We believe that tourism CAN benefit communities if done the right way with involvement of residents and projects.

I am going to explain the 6 parts of FAVELA ADVENTURES. We are not just a tourism company. The idea is to use tourism here as a way to benefit the people here. The more people we can involve with out work, the better for everybody. Its obvious that we can not help everybody but if everyone does a little to help out, then great for everyone.

1.) Tours of our Community- This is the base of how everything else operates. Without the tours, the other 5 parts would not exist. The tours of Rocinha are the only income from our work. Our visits are walking through the community explaining how life operates here. How are we different many ask. All our guides reside in Rocinha. All of the projects we support are inside the favela. Our tours are longer than most starting with 4 hour visits. We feel that the only way you can really understand a place is to be here for a while. Our tours are supported by the community because of the other volunteer work we do here.

SPIN ROCINHA DJ SCHOOL

REFUGIO & FORTALEZA CRECHE

2.) Dj School Spin Rocinha- Started in August of 2011 is our social project. We teach residents from 16-58 years old who reside in Rocinha. Currently we have about 12 students and operate the classes 6 days a week, from 7-9:30pm Monday-Saturday. We have a professional studio with the top of the line DJ equipment. For those wanting a career in DJ'ing we can refer them for jobs when they are ready. Spin Rocinha is a comprehensive program and students are provided instruction in the art of Dj'ing for free! We welcome Dj's from all over the world to come and visit our school to see or to give a workshop. Check out some of our previous posts of visitors we have had here to our school. We are developing the next generation of Dj's!

2.A.) Refugio e Fortaleza- is a creche or Daycare that we have partnered with to help them with supplies and other things they may need. About a year ago I found out about this Creche that was in need. I stopped by and spoke to Luciana the woman who operates the creche. After seeing the place where she cares for the children (about 30 kids), I knew it was a right fit. Our purpose is to link volunteers or people who have specific donations to offer the day care. For example, in August we had some university students who are studying early childhood education come to visit the creche as a private tour. They stayed and interacted with the children for about 2 hours. During this time, the university students bought needed supplies that the creche needed. Luciana has been trying to save money so she can improve her home. So the donations help her so she can save money.

3.) Volunteers- We also receive many inquiries from foreigners wanting to help the favela by offering to volunteer. We are not a business for this. We can refer you to several different projects who have told us that they are open to volunteers. Basic spoken portuguese certainly helps the experience for the visitor. If you are interested in helping out here please send us some information about yourself, why you want to volunteer and what projects you have interest in. we are connected to about 20 different projects, anything from Sports, Art or Music related activities. It helps if you have a Facebook page because we can then refer you to the page of the project that you are interested in. You can look over their page and see if the project interests you. We do not believe volunteers should need to pay for volunteering, so please do your research on this. Many of these pay to volunteer companies are scams that don't contribute or contribute very little to the communities. We give you the referral to the project and you do the rest. The projects that we work with do not expect foreigners to pay money to volunteer. What I do recommend though is if you are going to volunteer at an art school, that you bring some art materials as a "donation" to the project. This way the materials directly are beneficial to the project. We do not recommend giving money to any projects as this sets up the project expecting or only depending on outside help.

4.) Donations- This is a fairly new project that we have started. About 4 years ago I was receiving emails from visitors asking how they could help out with donations. When I first started doing the tours in 2008, I would give art supplies to Tio Lino's Art School here in Rocinha. Once I started the Dj School, my focus changed on directing our money to be spent on Dj equipment which is very expensive. As this was happening for us, I noticed that Tio Lino was getting help with sponsorship and even had a building built for his art school. So our money focused on building our Dj School. But still people would ask about donating things. So, I had this idea of finding projects inside the favela that really needed help and who were not receiving anything from anybody. Without letting too many know of my idea, I would find projects that needed help and then began to focus donations to be for specific projects. For example we help a Art Project called Espaco das Artes by giving them specifically art supplies and any materials they request that they need for their art projects. Many of the donations come from the help individuals who find out about Pack for a Purpose, a non profit that encourages travellers to bring donations to projects in developing countries. We have had huge success and with that we can help so many more projects in need.

5.) Housing- Many times after tours are given, people ask us about volunteering but they want to stay inside the community. We can help them find a place to stay. We have access to residents who have separate apartments to rent or home stays with a family. The idea is to have people from outside of Brazil get to know and understand favela life. The place you stay will cost a fraction of the cost of a place outside of Rocinha. Obi runs a guesthouse at the top of the favela called Rocinha Guest House. Most of our visitors like to stay there.

6.) We can facilitate individual projects here. In the past we have helped people from outside of Brazil who are involved in many different projects. They contacted me wanting to make interesting projects with the locals. In June of 2015 we plan to help facilitate some Basketball Clinics that will be run by Nate, a former visitor who runs a project in Philadelphia called "Books before Ball". These clinics are important to the development of youth, where the focus is on combining Education with Basketball.

Daniel Hoffman from the USA, brought disposable cameras to the favela and distributed them to children and adults to document their lives. When he receives the cameras back from the residents, he is going to make a blog and put the fotos and profiles of the people who took part in this project. See the post here about this:
http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.com.br/2014/01/daniel-hoffman-and-photography-project.html

Beccy McCray from England came and stayed in Rocinha and we referred her to two art projects that wanted to take part in her art project. read more here:
http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.com.br/2013/11/a-special-visitor.html

Ethan and Jade King from the USA, made a big impression on our football fans with their kind contribution. read more here: http://lifeinrocinha.blogspot.com.br/2014/11/the-benefits-of-tourism.html

These are just some of the projects we have facilitated here in our favela and we are always open to making more great things happen here. If you have an idea of a project you would like to do, contact me and we can make it happen!

These are the 6 parts to what we do here. This is why our website url is ".org". We want tourism to benefit and help as many people in our comunity!  Thank you to all of the tourists that have visited with us over the last 9 years. We are slowly building to our objective to by a building here to house art and music projects.

But for now, the work we are doing is very rewarding! Always thankful!

For more information contact Zezinho at: visitrocinha@gmail.com

Seeking Vinyl Records

As most of you know who visit my blog, we have a Dj School here called Spin Rocinha. Our next project is going to be finding vinyl records for our students.

We here believe that as a Dj learning to spin vinyl is showing respect for the origins of the art of Dj'ing. Our school has all the digital equipment and respects the advances in technology made available for the following generations of Dj's. I learned to Dj on vinyl as did Dembore, so its only natural that our school have vinyl. Our school will continue on with pendrives, CDJ's and controllers but its nice to have different media forms to experiment and learn.

When I started the Dj school, I knew it would be a challenge. You see in most parts of Brazil, Vinyl records are hard to find and are very expensive. At this time we do not have turntables because we dont have vinyl records. After talking to the students, there is now interest to learn to spin vinyl.

So I created this idea on how YOU can help us! For those who plan to take a tour with us we will give you a discount on your visit if each person brings one vinyl record. The type of music we would like is the types you would hear in a dance club. So, techno, trance, disco, electronic and anykind of house music will be perfect. Many of our past students are now playing in clubs so dance music is what is popular here.

I have committed to the students that once we get some vinyl records, then we can then by the 2 turntables so we can play these records. So, How about it? Can you help us build a small vinyl library?

Thank you!!!!

If you need any information, please contact us at: visitrocinha@gmail.com

Recycling Education through art with Espaco das artes Rogerio Roque

I wanted to distribute more of the art supplies and Espaco das Artes coordinator Rogerio Roque had a childrens art project going on in the Valao, which is one of the poorer areas. He set up around 10:30  and I arrived around 12 noon. I was able to put supplies into two back packs and carry them down to the Valao.

I made a promise to Debbie and Tom Bannister that I would not only distribute their supplies but also Debbie's hand made necklaces. I brought about 40 necklaces as I was not sure how many kids would show up. The majority of the kids were between 8-13 years old. THANK YOU DEBBIE & TOM!!!!!!

They say on a blue tarp the Rogerio rolled out right into the street. no shoes were allowed on the tarp
and the kids were given sheets of paper with images that they would color in with markers, crayons or colored pencils. All supplies that were brought by Pack for a Purpose visitors to our favela.

I spread out the necklaces and had the children choose which one they wanted and then I put it around their neck. There were two parents who also wanted one so I gave them too. I gave out all of them. There are still more but I will save them for the next event in a different location so Debbie's necklaces can be seen all over Rocinha. After the children learned about where to put each recyclable in proper place, Rogerio gave everybody chalk and we drew on the street. Even Rogerio and I got to making our "I (heart) Rocinha" designs with the chalk. Here are some fotos from today!

 

 

THANK YOU to everybody who has taken part in Pack for a Purpose. To find out more, check out their website!


 

Some Scots, a Frenchman and some Singaporeans come to play football!

 

 

I love these tours where real interaction and enjoyment makes everybody's day. Its so awesome to see our favela to meet foreigners who want to play football, enjoy a bbq and visit the community. Some our guests did not leave the favela until around 7:30pm as they wanted to visit our dj school SPIN ROCINHA and wanted to hang out at one of our local drinking spots..All this during the fever surrounding the World Cup. Above are some fotos from the event! Thanks to Chen Siyuan for some of the fotos.

Gavin Berry was the Scotsman who set this special tour up and also described in his own words, their experience in Rocinha.

Here is his story as written in the "Daily Record and Sunday Mail" one of the UK's biggest newspapers.

GAV wanted to see the real Rio so he paid a visit to the city's biggest favela, Rocinha, and along with his companions they found a warm welcome on the pitch.

Scots Beer Bellies 8 Young Brazilian Peles 24

ENGLAND can relax a bit – there is now a team which has performed even worse than they did at the World Cup.

We were oozing Caipirinhas, Brazil’s national cocktail, from watching their national team the night before while our showboating Samba hosts were simply oozing class.

It was the morning after the night before watching Brazil in action at the Copacabana fan zone and 15 of us stupidly agreed to take on a local side as part of a favela tour.

In hindsight, there was only ever going to be one outcome but what a phenomenal experience (the tour, not the game itself) in what was as big a mismatch as you’re ever likely to witness. We had taken in the must-see tourist attractions in the first few days: a game at the Maracana; Copacabana and Ipanema beaches; the Christ the Redeemer statue and all the great things Rio de Janeiro has to offer.

But we wanted a glimpse of the real Rio. Hearing so many stories of the city’s favelas – shanty towns built high into the mountains – had us questioning whether it was the right thing to do.

So many documentaries, including Ross Kemp on Gangs, had shown these slum communities as complete no-go areas and particularly for outsiders in what are seen as
crime-ridden areas where drug traffickers rule.

Even as our tour guide started talking he was interrupted by a huge bang. We all paused and looked at each other, having heard so many horror stories. But even he laughed as he promised us it was only a firework.

The only shots fired on this occasion were those that rained in on our goal by our slick Samba opponents as they put us to the sword in a humiliating lesson on how the beautiful game should be played.

Never have so many people volunteered to go between the sticks as on this occasion with many fearing they wouldn’t last the pace following a climb to the top of Rocinha – Rio’s largest favela and home to 300,000 people – in the searing heat.

In fact, we now reckon that was a deliberate ploy by our tour guides on behalf of our opponents to tire us out or even pick up an injury as we turned up for a 1pm kick-off – the hottest time of the day – already sweating and out of breath.

It was worth it for the incredible views at the summit, even if it wasn’t the ideal pre-match preparation. We were promised it would be a relaxed affair yet the opposite was true. We arrived to find the locals huddled around their coach receiving tactical information before they went back to the dressing room and emerged in full Brazil team colours of yellow tops and blue shorts.

The sight of that famous kit is enough to send shivers down the spine of any opposition and we were already shaking for very different reasons with some already indulging in a few of the local Brahma beers to cure their hangovers.

Yours truly won the battle to go in goal at the concrete indoor stadium but that was a big mistake. Having shipped three goals inside five minutes, it was the end of my involvement for the day.
To be fair, we were up against their A team in the early part before changing both sides every 20 minutes. As the hosts’ standard dropped, we had a bit more joy.

And for all the teenage Samba stars on show, it was a wee guy from Castlemilk who got the biggest cheer when he nutmegged an opponent. Take a bow, David Thomson, even if the applause from the locals was more out of pity by that stage.

If the myth that favelas are dangerous places was erased from our minds, this performance did nothing to alter the fact the Brazilians are more gifted than us with a ball at their feet. One consolation is that a Frenchman and two Singaporeans were also in our ranks after joining our group so they can at least share some of the blame for our 24-8 Samba slaughtering. After having us on toast for 90 minutes, our hosts then treated us to a barbecue and the one thing we are better than them at – drinking beer – to round off the football part of the tour.

Having exchanged strips and laughed at the sight of young Brazilians in Rangers, Celtic and Scotland tops while sporting See You Jimmy hats, it was back to the serious part of the tour.

Our head guide, Zezinho, met us first thing in the morning and his aim is to ensure the experience is as authentic as possible. That is why he insisted on taking public transport with the 539 bus from the Copacabana taking us high into the hilltop slum.

Covered from top to toe in self-designed tattoos of his beloved favela, he could be an intimidating sight but, just like the community he loves, there is much more to him than meets the eye. He spoke with passion about the people and of the misconception of favelas. As we wandered the narrow streets, there was never any sense of danger, only warmth and genuine appreciation from the locals.

There is a sense of togetherness and neighbours looking out for each other. Everywhere you go people acknowledging each other as they go about their daily business. And favelas have become more popular places to stay due to soaring accommodation prices during the World Cup.

We were shown Rocinha’s only hotel where rates were just £30 a night and the view was as good as you’re likely to get over Rio.

The England team made headlines for paying a visit to the favela but the Three Lions squad ventured only as far as the sports complex at the foot of Rocinha.

As one of our guides said: “Had they gone beyond that, they would have found a city within a city.”
Thankfully, we did

Read article here:
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/gavin-berry-plays-football-local-3766853

For more information on football or any other type of tours contact Zezinho at: visitrocinha@gmail.com