this is a story in the ‘altogether different’ category
empowering beyond belief
ooo yeah!! click it click it click it!!
(19:08 mins)
Archives for category: poverty & wealth
the rest of mateos and jelson’s pool time shots.
city fountains is pools.
garbage is toys.
kids truly know how to make the best of a situation.
even more reason to let them have a say.
excited to share their stories. really really.
dr irene of the clinic AMMOR (a health clinic created by dr irene to educate street children for life, through health) contemplating a balloon for the multimedia story we have been working on titled ‘enough balloons’.
there is a craze here in brazil to deck out a whole building with balloons for kids’ birthday parties.
fun enough.
but hard to swallow when there are other children in brazil whose mothers can’t afford to put food on the table.
we are looking at sharing, and caring, the word ‘deserve’ and what it means, why some seem to get more than others, and who ‘deserves’ what, money and happiness, compassion and happiness, poverty and wealth.
and we let the children have a word.
because as dr irene says, what’s the use – if our efforts aren’t centred on the needs of los pequenos (the little ones)?
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the pedreira favela.
this favela has a reputation as being the most violent in belo horizonte. according to dr irene, since FIFA arrived to assess the city’s suitability as a host for the soccer world cup, the government has really began to step up funds for social programs and improvement of basic services in the area- an attempt to reduce crime and improve the quality of life of residents.
national geographic magazine just ran an article about t.v soap operas influencing brazilian womens’ ideas on family planning, resulting in a reduction in the birth rate in this country. so, interesting to note that soccer and soaps are major forces of social change. super!
in this image, dr irene enters the neighbourhood to visit a local family with edmilson, a youth worker from a nearby shelter.
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many children living on the streets become addicted to the freedom of a life with few rules, and find it difficult to adjust to the regulations of shelters. part of dr irene’s program of learning for life through health, involves having the kids wait patiently before a consultation. though she makes the task easier with books, games, toys, and black boards.
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in the hallways of the AMMOR clinic, the kids leave the chalk board to play with an aussie with a camera. i stood back while the kids took over for this shot : )
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some photos of the people and places and stories of ‘enough balloons’ are up on the website alanagregory.com under the gallery collection ‘documentary’.
just images right now, but in the next few weeks i will add captions.
in the following months i will do my best to bring together the ideas of dr irene, those in the favela who shared their stories, and the responsible businesses and individuals who are acting to ensure resources and opportunity are available to all.
and most importantly, to share the thoughts and experiences of the children who seem to end up in last place when a society can’t work out how to share it’s wealth – but who are always first to forgive, move foreword and thrive if there is any chance to do so.
these kids have some interesting things to say. they blew me away.
i have met some really amazingly brave and shy and wonderful kids in the past weeks. many of them have shared their stories which i know was tough for them, and it can be hard to hear what they have to say and hard to know how to respond. dr irene, who runs AMMOR has been a great example for me. the kids light up when they see her, and she inspires instant trust with her honesty and her manner.
basically she believes in these kids. and they know it.
click on the heart. 3:24 mins. worth it.
inequality. between rich and poor. based on race, disability and gender.
1% of landowners own half the land
brazil has the 7th largest economy but ranks only 75th on the human development index.
it used to be the 10th largest economy and was ranked 65th on the development index, so the gap is actually widening.
a rickety favela is dwarfed by a new shopping complex development
osendudo and maria are two of brazil's 45 million who live in poverty. 45 million.
augusto prepares rice for the street peeps on rua imp. pedro segunda in downtown recife.
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there are many local organisations who provide social support programs for recife’s poorest. what champs. here are a few…
house of passage (casa de passagem)
happy child (crianca felix)
responsibility. i have a responsibility to share my fortune. as a member of a community. and i like to do so. it makes me feel a part of the community rather than afraid of it. (i can always do more, i know this!). even though these great organisations, case de passagem etc, are taking much of the responsibility for creating opportunities for those with less, is it not also the responsibility of those with a lot, to contribute to the health of their community at large?
i think i would like to find out. maybe they do contribute? i think i would like to ask the 1%. not even in a mean way! i just don’t get it.
YEP. 