I visited a Non-Profit Organization the other day. I didn’t know when I got there. Its a place where homeless woman come to work and learn a trade—sewing. The upstairs is little classrooms and playrooms. The children of the homeless come here from 6am to 11pm everyday. They are fed and clothed and go to school. After 11pm, they return to the streets with their mothers.
They used to have 150 children here, but now there is only enough money for 30 kids. These are babies, most of them under 7 years old.
I am told the class difference in Brazil is huge. The rich people here are better off than rich people in the US… but the poor people are absolutely destitute. I have seen many kids sleeping in the streets around the city. Poor little things.
The woman who started this organization, Maria, used to be homeless. She slept on the property for a long time, and eventually she got the government to allow her to be the caretaker. She then built this building and set up this organization in order to help other homeless people.
At one point, a high school came to take a tour of the place and they assembled in a small classroom. Then Maria brought in all the little children to sit with them. She then spoke about the center. Mostly she spoke about the plague of social prejudice. You need money to live, to be a citizen, to be educated, and we should all feel priveledged to be alive.
They exist completely by donation. If you are interested, check this out, or contact me for info.
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