Nice change of scenary, but we missed the beach already.
Sao Paulo is a metropolis, a huge never ending beast of concrete jungle.
Apparently the population is between 19-20 Million, but they actually dont know!!!
The city is like a mix of LA, NYC and Mexico, its big, brash and covered, I mean covered in graffiti. From the USA influenced styles, to euro, to character and of course the brazillian Pixador.
We did our first workshop in a place called CASA DEZEZHINO. This place is unlike anything we have ever been in, a really pretty 'school/youth centre' in the favelas, which basically serves as an alternative education venue for kids in the area.
Started by an amazing and inspiring woman callled Auntie Dag, 17 years ago, after a 10 yr old girl told her she was thinking about becoming a prostitute.
It began in her house, with 12 kids, now it has 1000 pupils and the house has been renovated and added to over the years to become this cavern of spaces and rooms to do everything from dance, art, film, sports, maths, cooking, media etc.
They are saviours of lives in the casa and the smiles and talents of the kids prove it.
Originally it was a safe house for kids, who were distitute, in trouble with drug dealers, or abused by families or others.
We were shown a film which explained some of the problems these people face, it dealt with rape, torture, murder, abuse, drugs, no food, homelessness etc, it was shocking and very sad, but this place is a shining light amongst the darkness that creeps through the veins of this city.
This is why true care and love really matter in this world, places like this are needed everywhere and we should look to this woman and this centre for inspiration on how we can safeguard the future for those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Workshops went down a storm and the kids loved it, but I dont think as much as we did.
Another high but in the backs of our mind sadness.
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