Newsletter April 2016
Around Carnival pastor Sjaak, and three members of Society "Witte", went to Rio.
Below is a small part of the report of their visit to Itaguai
“De Witte”in Rio
Carnival in Brazil is an event which makes 200 million people very happy.
Rio takes the lead, the whole year working on floats as big as barges. The floats are surrounded by about 15,000 people from each Samba School and form a procession on the Avenida Oscar Niemeijer, a procession which passes the public in 80 minutes. A certain message is conveyed in a very creative and grand manner. The theme could be “a protest against corruption”, “an ode to the climate of Paris” or a promotion of the Paralympics this summer with the Olympic Games to be held in the”Cidade Maravilhosa”. One can say that Carnival is education!
We would not be representing “De Witte” if we were not going to look behind the scenes. Where does all that energy and creativity come from? The carnival industry involves hundreds of thousands of people living in the favelas and removes them from poverty for a while. Many street children and the unemployed learn to work together and develop their talents by choosing the themes, building the floats, making costumes, the choreography and all the technology which is involved. They can be admired for one weekend a year and can shine like a star. For the winner of the parade, there are often opportunities for work and recognition.
On Ash Wednesday we visited a project in Itaguai. We met a group of 35 disabled athletes who are given a chance to come out of their isolation. A few of them may participate in the opening ceremony of the Paralympics. During the carnival, we saw how they will do that : they turn their wheelchairs upsidedown and walk on their hands with the wheels in the air. Nobody talked about a lack of water or electricity. Their smiles from ear to ear showed their pride and gratitude for this opportunity.
Then we visited the bishop of Itaguai, a cross of ashes at 42 degrees in the cathedral and then back to the center of Rio in order to review everything with the help of a few final Caipirinhas.
Before we finish this letter we would like to tell you that we have sponsored Vera Boon, a teacher. She is working for a year as a volunteer at a school in Tanzania. With that money she will buy school supplies, especially books. Through our website we will keep you informed.
Now the really last news: we are busy preparing for our 30th anniversary. It will take place in late August or early September. We will keep you informed.
Chamber of Commerce: 371000429 Bank: NL16 RABO 03689.48.870 t.n.v. Auxilia
