By 9am this 75 yr old had already been working since 7am. She had given jobs to some ex-drug addicts and was there herself at the beginning of their day to be sure they arrived and worked. Elsa and Laurie and many other Brazilian friends of theirs have been friends for most of the 29yrs of this project. What is impressive is that she has know how to motivate a dedicated team around her and known how to help the community help each other.
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| Old friends meeting up - Elsa with Dona Anna and her secretary |
Between phonecalls Dona Anna explains how the project now has 7 areas. While we're talking in comes a mother in tears because her rebellious15yr-old who won't come to school. After reassuring her that this phase will pass Dona Anna said - send her to me at 10 tomorrow. I have a new IT project starting. I will motivate her to stay! Typical of the heartpower of this "grandma of the whole community.
Let me show you some of the 400 children who benefit:-
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Headteacher Dona Jacqueline with some of the "Happy Duckling" creche
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| A lesson in the Library |
All these rooms are actually clinging onto the hillside of this area Morro dos Macacos which was a favela the last time we were here. This picture, taken inside the Community Centre, shows where most of these families live
Must go now. Tomorrow we go up 1000m to Petropolis for the weekend. Let me leave you with one of the motivating poster from the centre where so many young people find hope:-
"Books don't change the world
Books change people
People change the world"
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Parabens a Dna. Ana pela lindo projeto aos drogados, assim como tantos projetos que temos pelo Brasil sob os cuidados de pessoas como ela, que faz a grande diferenca na vida de algumas pessoas.
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