Our journey in Brazil Part 2

Now we arrive to Belem, we did it two days before we expected so we had more time to know the city.

We went to many places: cidade velha, Igreja do Cirio, Catedral, porto, Mercado, docas, Mangal das Garças y Zoobotanico. We went too to visit two NGO’s: Curro Velho and IMAZON.

Fundaçao Curro Velho

This organization depends on the minister of culture of the government of Pará. The name of the place means: old place used to kill cows. Some years ago the government decided to convert the place in a cultural center were people from all ages can go to be introduced in arts.

This place works as arts training center for people who wants to be introduced into the arts world. It doesn’t matter the age, but usually is frequented by children and youths. Is free for those children that go to public schools, the rest have to pay U$S7 a month.

When the children came here they can go to different courses according to what they want: audiovisual arts, scenic arts, music, plastic arts or introduction to the world of arts.

None of the courses are prepared to be professionals. They are just an introduction to this disciplines; but, for those who revel special conditions the organization has more specific courses that allow this people to create things that they can sell to get money.

The ones chosen to be part of this specific courses receive a scholarship that consist of some money and transport money too. Once they finish this courses they are hired as monitors to assist the teachers on the general courses. They receive a salary for this activity. After some time as monitors they become teachers and they receive a full salary.

One of the interesting things of their work is that they promote the use of recycled material on their productions.

Another interesting thing is that they decide to start a research about native’s culture in order to promote this culture to the children so the traditions of the area can be conserved.

Sometimes the teachers go out of Belem, to countryside areas to give courses, but the interesting thing is that before giving courses the teachers go this areas to learn about the specific culture of the place in order to teach that instead of teaching something from outside.

Another function of this organization is to help in the fight against violence in the neighborhood and smoothing the shocks created by the process of urbanization.

Is important to remark that we couldn’t see the people working because it was holiday’s time and it was Friday. During holidays the organization have some activities for those who stayed on the city but not on Fridays because in Belem Fridays are like holidays. Almost no one stays on the cities on Fridays; so, if you decide to visit this place be shore that is not vacation’s time or Friday.

IMAZON

IMAZON is stands for: Institute of Human Been and Environment of Amazon. This institute was created as one of the first local centers of research about Amazon, the idea was to understand forest issues on the Amazon Jungle and find solutions to the problems on this area.

At the beginning the institute tried to publish on international journals and then they decided to start publishing in local media and they put the information available for free to everybody.

After some years they started to train people on monitoring the deforestation of the Amazon. One of the most important activities that this institute realize is to stimulate public policies and help in different areas. For example, in 2005 the government of Para asked them to help them to identify places to create protected areas and explain to the government how to do it.

Another thing that they do in a monthly frequency is to monitor: illegal routs, deforestation and degradation. With this information they produce a monthly report that helps to know the actual state of the Amazon jungle.

They have many areas of research and they have researches about the impact of the economic activities of the local communities on the Amazon jungle. They produce material related with sustainable use of forest products, legal advices, ecological education, state of the population on the legal Amazon, etc.

Our contact was Brenda Brito (bredabrito@imazon.org.br ; Te: (91) 3182-4000/ (91) 9100-2966). She said to us that next time if you ask her an special presentation about an specific work or topic that the institute work with they can make a power presentation and informative talk with the crew in charge for an entering morning or afternoon.

I recommend to the next group of volunteers to read more about IMAZON researches because they are really interesting in order to understand more Brazil, and then ask Brenda to make an special presentation about an specific topic.

Our Accommodation

We stayed in a Seminar house were a Rudney’s friend live. His name is “Lourenço Rodrigues da Silva Junior”, his e-mail is: loursjunior@yahoo.com.br. He is a really cool guy, he was our guide around the city, he was with us all the time, helping us with the buses, the addresses and everything what we need. The place was amazing, we had a private room for each one of us, very nice and clean bathrooms with showers, swimming pool, free breakfast and lunch, and dinner (if we were there on time). We were treated as kings. He is from Belem so he knows the city very well so he can recommend you good places to visit.

He will stay in Belem just until January the 9nt of 2010 but he say that until that date all IICD volunteers are welcome.

The buses in Belem

Maybe all around Brazil but especially in Belem, take a bus is a dangerous adventure. When the bus is coming you really have to run to get into it before it gets full. Then you need to be ready to pay, they are a little expensive (almost R$2 each ticket). Once you are inside you need to hold on with all your forces because they go very fast and they brake suddenly.