My Volunteer Programme in Salvador - Brazil

For my family, friends and for those who have kindly supported me in this worthwhile venture here is a weekly progress report of my placement and how I am able to help in community led projects
Week 1 - 6th Sept Week 2 - 13th Sept Week 3 - 20th Sept Week 4 - 28th Sept Week 5 - 4th Oct
Week 6 - 11th Oct Week 7 - 18th Oct Week 8 - 25th Oct Week 9 - 1st Nov Week 10 - 8th Nov

 

Week 4 - 28th September
 Favelas

Very interesting lecture this week about Favelas.  Favela is a specifically Brazilian word for a shanty town. The majority have electricity, but in most cases it is illegally tapped from the public grid. Favelas are constructed from a variety of materials, ranging from bricks to garbage. Many Favelas are very close and very cramped. They look dreadful from the outside and there seem to be many very large ones in Salvador. Although many of the most infamous are located in Rio de Janeiro, there are Favelas in almost every large or even mid-sized Brazilian town. Briefly a Favela is established when a parcel of land becomes available, whether private or public. As soon as word spreads a large group would establish themselves and claim squatters rights, initially building over night almost mud houses. If they manage to stay for 3 years then the Government must provide them with water and electricity and they have the right to stay there. They then build more substantial brick houses all over the place usually on a steep hill leaving the outsides unfinished in exposed bricks. After 5 years the government provides drainage etc.
Favela Favela Joel at Baixa

Wednesday. Very humbling experience as a student invited me to his home to meet the family. 33 of them in a section of a Favela (shanty town) all wanted to say hello and hear me speak appalling Portuguese. At least I had a go. I met his parents, grand parents, brothers, sisters and their boy and girl friends, Aunts, Uncles, Nieces and Nephews etc.  All such lovely friendly people with a very strong family bond that we do not seem to have in the UK.

It is really a slum on the outside as all the buildings are not finished with just the bricks showing. Roads were unmade and all on a slope, or hillside of about 40 degrees.    Many do not have adequate sewage and resort to septic tanks.  However the house of my student had tiled floors and the walls were plastered. All mod cons were there, ie TV. computers, washing machines and fridges etc.  The little money they have is used to enjoy the material things of life – all on about £150.00 a month as an average.

Thursday.  Added to my workload and went to an orphanage with the girls and passed 2 hours playing with a 10 month old little girl who cried when I put her down. All very moving and sad. I will do this every week as they need the help of extra pairs of hands.

Friday. Best lesson yet as I managed to use the Computer with all the images of my house and articles therein. Great to relieve the boredom of normal teaching.  TGIF - Thank God its Friday. Going up the coast with the ladies for weekend as we all need the rest. Three more students arriving over weekend. Two girls and a man at last.
Barra beach sunset Orphanage Young percussion group
Pelourinho Cross Monument Pelourinho Old Town Monument and Elevator