The Favela Leaves Impressions

Its awesome when we meet visitors that are somehow impressed by our community. Its great when the visitor sees the favela but then wants to return to check out other things in Rocinha. We have had guests get hair cuts, have dental work done and get tattoos. Businesses in Rocinha rely on word of mouth and having a good reputation. People here talk and word travels fast.

Andrew Ritchie and his girl friend Tracey came on a tour and enjoyed the favela so much that they came back today. Tracey decided to stay at the bottom of the hill and do some shopping. Andrew decided to get a tattoo to mark his memory of the favela Rocinha.

Obi met him at the top of Rocinha at 2pm, and took him to Diego Rossi Tattoo Studio at Escadao near 99 an area high up the hill. Diego pre-designed a drawing of a favela that wraps around the forearm.

I wanted to learn more from Andrew about his impressions of Rocinha. He is from Birmingham England, born and raised. He is 55 years young and works as a Locomotive Engineer or a train operator. I always was fascinated and loved trains as a kid, and still do.

He said that he wanted to visit the favela to see all aspects of life in Rio, not just the rich neighborhoods. He said "You go up to the christ, you look all around the city and favelas are part of it." He felt very comfortable and was welcomed by the people in Rocinha in a good way. He didn't feel like an outsider. "People here are interested in me, as I am in them."

Andrew said he plans to return to get the rest of the favela colored in.

I asked him why a tattoo of a favela? He said that many of his tattoos represent different periods of his life and the favela impressed him so much. He feels that there is a misconception about the favelas. The outside media tends to talk only about the drug dealers. He says, the favela is a worthy place to visit, shop and even get a tattoo. Andrew says that he will return!

Diego Rossi tattoo artist and Andrew before saying good byes!

Andrew on a moto taxi going back to where he is staying, after getting his tattoo!

Businesses in Rocinha: Kitu Bolos e Tortas

I enjoy writing about Rocinha and educating people about our lives here. Mixed with other blog posts I want to start showcasing the different types of businesses residents have here.

We are organizing a party this weekend and I needed a cake for this special event. In Rocinha people are very connected to each other when it comes to the selling of goods and services. We help each other find the things we need through networking and Facebook is a great way to connect. Many people who have businesses here don't earn enough to have a professional website to be done. So, they use Facebook because they can set up a page for free.

I put up a post on a community web page looking for a person who could make us a cake for about 30 people. Within 5 minutes I had people contact me with names of people and businesses that make cakes. One send me her facebook page and details. I was impressed. We started communicating about what I wanted and set up a meeting. Also, the other shops I contacted were not open on Sunday. So picking this shop was ideal.

I arrived today in the shop of Da Kitu Bolas e Tortas at the top of Rua 1 in Rocinha. The address is Estrada da Gavea, 251, 2nd floor. Their telephone number is: 99648-5042

The entrance to Da Kitu Bolos e Tortas Bakery.

So, I enter and introduce myself and explain that I was online talking with somebody about ordering the cake. Kristina or "Kitu" as she is known asked me to sit down and she took my order for my cake. I paid her a deposit and on Sunday we will pick up the cake before our party.

 Kitu taking an order from a client in the reception area..

Kitu is a very proud mother of two children who are now grown adults. She has loved in Rocinha 49 years born and raised. She loves Rocinha and has no plans to leave. She enjoys her business which she says is growing. She employs 3 people at this time and wants to expand her business to give more opportunities for people in the favela.

The kitchen area. One of her employees washing out pans to make more cakes.

I saw these cakes, not yet frosted and had to take a photo. Looks & smells great!

Kitu's bakery makes, cakes, pies and cupcakes. If you want your cake to be pesonalized they can do this too. Cakes start at 65 reais up to 1000 reais. Price depends on size and work involved to create it.

This cake costs 500 reais but as you can see, a lot of preparation work goes into making a cake like this.

Kitu with one of her creations!

One thing I noticed right off from visiting the bakery was how clean everything is. The floors, countertops were spotless in the kitchen area and the reception area was clean too. This is very important to me when it comes to any kind of food service.

Below are photos of some of her work, Check out the Facebook link above to see more.

Minion cupcakes! :)

Donations

After about 4 months of collection donations, we are starting the distribution of the art and school supplies received over Christmas, New Years and Carnaval. I have put a post on Facebook on the page called "Rocinha' searching for creches and schools to give the materials to. I have given to specific daycares in the past but I want to open up other avenues and make connections with more creches in need. The more we can help the better.

I need to make something clear here. I have always been about transparency in regards to the work we do. I received a message from a woman who complained that she saw posts like this one as "showing off".  Her point is understood but she is not in my position. Many tourists give to projects like mine because we are very clear in what we do. People who give donations to us, and they have every right to see (with proof) where their donations go. There are many scammers out there looking to take advantage of nice people. I want at all times, my words to be backed by showing what we do. So, if some see it as "showing off", so be it.

So the distribution of donations has begun.

March 20th, 2016: The first place we gave to is Centro Social "E Ae Como E Que Fica". Sandra who works with the school came by to pick up some of the school supplies. Her creche serves about 100 children between the ages of 5 months until 5 years old. Her creche is located at the top of Rua 1 in Rocinha.

Today March 21st we had 3 groups come to pick up donations.

The first was Ivan Taylor, 26 years old is the son of Juaciara. Juaciara runs the creche called Maria Maria in the area of Cezario high up the hill in Rocinha. Their creche serves about 80 children between the ages of 5 months and 5 years. I hope these supplies can help their project. Below are fotos of the creche and the children using the materials. Creche Maria Maria is ever so greatfull. Thank you to everyone who donated!

The next person to pick up some donations was Junior, 15 years old, the son of Luciana Santos. She started "Casa da Luciana" as a means to raise her kids at home and help other families. She currently takes care of about 20 children from the ages of 1 year until 10 years old.

Luciana sent me this message: "Hello Zezinho, I am 47 years old and I take care of children at the entrance of street number 2 in the favela. I began this work a long time ago. Because I have problems with my weight, I prefer to stay and work in my home. I also work to receive toys and donations that I can distribute to needy families. I don't accept money. I have been doing this work for 5 years."

Luciana sent me some photos of the children that she cares for. The photos are not the best, but she is a very proud woman!

UPDATE April 4th: I advised Luciana to make a facebook page to promote her creche and now she has a page called Refugio e Fortaleza. Check it out!

Creche Municipal Castelinho

Leidy Martins of Creche Castelinho had her husband and son (see photo) come by my place to pick up two big bags of combination of clothing, bed sheets, blankets and the second bag was all school and art supplies. I have been working with Castelinho for about 3 years now. A photo below of what Castelinho will receive. The school and art supplies are for the daycare. The clothing, sheets and blankets will be given to specific families.

                                 Donations have arrived at the creche

A child at Creche Castelinho enjoying the coloring book and markers.

Creche Castelinho was started as a private daycare in 1994 but then because a municipal or city governed daycare in 2004. Leidy Martins has been working at the daycare since 2007 and she loves working with children. The school has 100 children enrolled between the ages of 1 to 3 years old.

I always try to help different types of daycares that are in need. Children need activities to keep them busy and have fun.

If you would like to donate to one of these projects, the directors have told me that the most needed items are:

Coloring books
Coloring books with educational things (like coloring simple math problems)
Crayons
Colored Pencils
Markers
Simple puzzles

These should be items that are suitable for children 3-10 years old.

I want to give a BIG thank you out to all the wonderful visitors who gave these school supplies in 2015-16. These materials will be put to good use! Also for
Pack for a Purpose a website that encourages visitors to low income areas around the world to bring donations to projects in need.

If you are interested in helping in any way please contact Zezinho at:
visitrocinha@gmail.com

Heavy rains flood various parts of Rocinha

Living in Rocinha (a favela)

When the rain comes theres always potential problems. We used to have many mud and landslides, but things have changed. Many who lived in the most risky areas have moved and the don't go back, knowing the dangers. But flooding still exists. Tonight from about 7:30pm until 10:00pm the pictures I received were shocking. Water almost 1 meter in height running through the alleyways.

People live high up on the hill do have a civil defense post they can go to if water invades their home. Check out the fotos below.

Check out this video to get a better idea of what was going on tonight.
Thanks to faveladarocinha.com a media company in Rocinha for the use of their video.

or this video or this one.

Many animals were affected by the heavy rains in the favela. 2 dogs on a moto.

After the rain stopped there was still a lot of water.

After the water drained away this is what was left mostly at the bottom of Rocinha. We have a problem with many who do not put trash in the proper areas. I see many who just throw trash on the street and this is the result after heavy rains.

The sad results, two people died in the floods in Rocinha. One 60 year old man was washed away in the open sewer. More reason for the need from the government to help us close these open sewers. The foto below shows the city workers finding the body of a man washed away from the top of the favela, to the bottom.

These are just some of the problems we face living in a favela.