Staff Member Brittany Reyes:
ISP has been off to a great start with our group having a full week exploring the city of Rio de Janeiro. We started off our journey together flying in and members immediately felt immense love and connection to this city. Some of the most meaningful moments for them have been through moments of connection with people here.
One of the first people we got to connect with with Rene Silva, a longtime friend of BroSis. He is a journalist and founder of Voz Das Comunidades, a newspaper founded to lift the voices of people living in Brazil’s Favelas. We got to visit the headquarters of Voz and had time for meaningful connection with the staff there sharing truths, practicing language, and learning about their important work uplifting the voices of people that are not always centered throughout the country.
During the week we have been able to visit various Favelas and learn about some of the meaningful work that is happening there. One of the first connections we made was with Instituto Entre Ceu Ea Favela, located in Morro da Providencia, the first Favela ever created in Rio de Janeiro. They are an organization that focus on uplifting community care and addressing the needs of folks around them directly. We were able to tour the favela with leaders directly and see their work with young people through theater, ways they address the needs of the community through hiring local residents to engage in local improvement projects, and the technical training work they provide to increase opportunity.
Members have had a number of moments that have allowed them to learn about historical and cultural significance in the country as well. They got to visit a space called, Cidade de Samba, and get a behind the scenes glimpse of how they make the floats for carnival. Members learned about the techniques, processes of labor and all the different ways that floats become the masterpieces that they are. Some other highlights for folks included a visit to Ipanema Beach, visit with the US consulate and having exchanges with different youth here in the country. Our members are learning more about societal issues that impact young people across the country and expanding their minds in the midst of building connection.
Many of the moments our members are having are significant and very special, as they are gaining access to new experiences and moments that many Brazilians do not even have the ability to explore. We are moving with much gratitude and humility due to this fact and look forward to what’s ahead.
We are thankful for the immense warmth we have felt along our journeys and all the ways we have been welcomed here. We are now settled into Miguel Perriera and look forward to what is to come.
