Written by Alison | 17 October 2011

Its so hard to know where to begin with this place. Belem & the islands of Brazil are intense, passionate, humble, beautiful, powerful ....... Its a place everyone needs to visit. With so many incredible experiences I have to remember the focus of this visit - to gain intel and links for our volunteers to come over and assist the valuable work that AmazonArt is doing here. The future of the Amazon and the communities that live here is integral to the survival and health of the planet. Everyone hears this - reads this and most people then switch over - watch a movie - worry about bills - go cook a meal.

Life always goes on.

But not for those killed by extreme weather - floods - drought - war because of lack of resources. Its all linked to the Amazon. This place and the entire delta, not just Brazil, is the lungs of our planet. Without it we can't breathe and there are a plethora of other consequences. Thats the horror - but people switch off to horror. What people love and enjoy are the pleasures in life - not material things - but real pleasures; music, song & dance.

Watching Fabricio, Junior, Aldair & Adgijel sitting still, in awe, at Diego playing Mozart yesterday was so inspiring.

These are young men inspired by dance - street dance - inspired so much that they practice and practice and have become talented and skilled which increases their enjoyment and also for those watching them. These kids are practicing on a concrete floor with a plastic cover - no mat! They're sharing ONE set of shock pads on one knee and one elbow. We can change this - we can provide protective gear - a cool outfit for shows - a rubber mat. You can watch their show - spread the video - get them seen and make people realise what music and dance can do to people.

There will no doubt be many more posts about this incredible place but please feel free to look through the photos on FaceBook and like the Page please. If you're able to travel over and see for yourself, please get in touch and we can make arrangements for you. It WILL change your life x

Photo by Lou Guedes

Written by Alison | 12 October 2011

This place is so amazing - apart from a hectic schedule its an incredible journey of new experience after new experience - the river - the children - the love - the crime - the emotional tears at classical concerts - the scenery - public speaking - presentations - being behind a microphone - on camera - being interviewed - but overall this project just blows your mind.

I've just returned from Ilha do Combú - Combu Island -  from the Day of Children "Dia das Crianças" festivities at the island school, a half hour trip from Belém city. We spent time with the children - I gave them a lesson on the rain cycle - and also watched the Horta Suspensa workshop by an incredible NGO that aims to promote, practice, discuss and try to make the world a better place to live through the principles of permaculture. The previous night I'd been treated to a night on the river, staying at the riverside home of one of the loal medical centre staff. After the rains fell it was an incredible night with clear skies, a bright full moon and no mosquitos! Even more incredible was watching the river rise by over 5 metres - which explains the height of the "bridges" or walkways from the river edge to the houses.

Our hosts "bridge" was in poor repair, mainly because the family had recently lost the father from a poisonous snake bite while he was in the rainforest collecting acai berries. I spoke at length to the daughter of the house, now alone with her mother. She was going to technical college before her father died but had to drop-out as there was no longer anyone to pick her up and escort her across the river in the evenings - she also didn't want to leave her mother to go into the city. Its a really difficult situation for them but they never stopped smiling and were so so hospitable to us. Luckily, they've agreed to host volunteers that wish to come help the school, the community and AmazonArt's work. We talked about the fact there were virtually no widwives in the area and whether Viv (the daughter) wanted to get trained in midwifery. Her mother works at the medical centre. If there are any midwives who could offer assistance in training that would be fantastic. There is no internet access on the island but there's ways of adapting lessons!

Tomorrow we leave early for Bragança on the Atlantic coast to assist another project supported by AmazonArt. I'll update you shortly - meanwhile photos on the Facebook page (Link top left).

 

Written by Alison | 08 October 2011

Written by Alison | 15 September 2011

This is what volunteering gets you ......

Travel2Change's Alexandra is currently en route to Peru to assist  "Waves for Devlopment"; a project which offers Educational Surf programs to at-risk Peruvian youth, helping them to develop healthy physical activity habits, gain an appreciation for the natural environment, and acquire needed life skills while building confidence and having fun.  "Pursuing their own, individual ‘educational careers’ is an important driver of programs"; an ethos I share with KO2 Adventures, which uses zero-emission dirtbiking to do the same, in Nidderdale, North Yorkshire.

How much fun can "voluntourism" be. Contact us for more details.