In addition to VAMOS CRIANÇA, we are currently supporting. . .
NINHO – Prostitute-Initiative in Bacabal
In the initiative, younger and older women have joined forces in Bacabal (Maranhão, northeastern Brazil) to try to escape the prostitution environment and improve their living conditions through school and training.
Vamos! has helped to set up a meeting point centre in the Novo Bacabal outskirts settlement and funded various courses on women’s arts and crafts training. In addition, NINHO is advised and accompanied by VAMOS! in the preparation and implementation of participatory evaluation and planning processes.
Unidos Venceremos – Mobilizing community work in the outskirts of Bacabal
The everyday life of the Novo-Bacabal district includes hunger, alcohol and drug abuse, physical and sexual violence, high adolescent pregnancy rates – all of which have a direct Impact of marginalisation, fragmentation and discouragement of the families who live here. Under these conditions, how can changes be initiated with those affected that open up new opportunities for life and development?
After informal visits to the houses, the residents of Novo-Bacabal are invited to a first meeting in June 2001: About 35 men and women, young people and children gather in the open air. Their expectations: There are people coming from the government or from the church, politicians or missionaries who will solve our problems.
They are surprised to realize that these meetings, which take place weekly from then on, are about discovering and strengthening their own forces and abilities in dialogue and listening to each other, thereby creating the conditions for them to recognize their history and that of its district as their task and take it into their own hands.
IMAGINE THE CITY NOVO BACABAL,
WHERE ALL FAMILIES CAN LIVA A GOOD LIVE,
WITHOUT MISERY AND SUFFERING. THIS SOUNDS IMPOSSIBLE
BUT IT IS NOT IT DEPENDS ON US!
Unidos Venceremos – Together we will win
From the regular meetings emerges the UNIDOS VENCEREMUS district group. It has now become a place where ordinary people – regardless of race, gender, age and religion – learn to speak and, above all, are heard. Its members proudly tell of the small ‘ victories ‘ they have been able to celebrate over the years as the fruits of their initiative:
- Volunteer health workers are working in the borough, advising the families and mostly caring for infants and toddlers.
- The streets of Novo-Bacabal are still not all paved, but they have at least already got a gravel layer.
- A simple community centre – Centro Comunitario Paulo Freire – was built, where today, among other things, the project VAMOS! CRIANÇA works.
Maria de Socorro says: “It’s a good feeling when I can say: I am part of the UNIDOS VENCEREMOS GROUP. Ever since I joined in, I feel like I’m a human being! ‘
MST – Movement of the landless
Today, the movement is one of the strongest opposition movements in South America and is committed to land distribution, integrated agricultural reform and a fairer society in Brazil. Through VAMOS! the movement in the State of Maranhão could be supported in the areas of training and legal advice.
Drinking water supply in drought areas in the state of Maranhão
In cooperation with CARITAS of the brazilian state of Maranhão, VAMOS! was able to fund the construction of cisterns for storing rainwater. The process of community mobilization to build these cisterns has provided villagers with not only an improvement in water supplies, but also an increase in self-awareness and community awareness.
Regional funding projects in Germany
In various social hotspots of the region around the big city of Dortmund, VAMOS! was able to support, for example, homeless and self-help initiatives and also contribute to the self-organization of those affected through targeted individual help.
For example, the following project:
A homeless initiative in Herne with attached soup kitchen, clothes chamber and medical care. Horst Langer, Franciscan, is leading this successful project. In addition, there is an intensive cooperation of the inhabitants of this social focus point. Young people attending vocational school receive additional support lessons from Horst Langer.
There has been support in the past for. . .
- schooling for children from socially vulnerable families on the outskirts of Bacabal in north-east Brazil
- a streetworker project with homeless In São Paulo – Brazil
- a Caju processing project with young people in Pau d ‘Arco, in the northeastern brazilian state of Piauí
- health and child pastoral care in Bacabal northeastern Brazil