Monday, January 31, 2005

BATIZADO de CAPOEIRA BEIJA-FLOR

Batizado_04
Mestre Chumbinho from the Grupo Angolinha grins elusivly at his opponent from Capoeira Beija-Flor.

Capoeira is a genuinely Brazilian tradition, a blend of art, sport, martial arts skills, dance, folklore, theatre and philosophy.

The Rescue Programme for street children developed by CARF, included from its inception in 1993, the continuous and effective use of Capoeira and its methodology as an important rehabilitation tool.

The levels reached were surprisingly advanced which alerted us to the enormous value of Capoeira, also as a positive prevention tool. This long-term experience was one of the governing factors that inspired us to create the Humming Bird Activity Centre, where today our Academy Capoeira Beija-Flor is probably the most popular of all our activities, with the largest number of pupils and the longest waiting list.

The efficiency of capoeira in social development programmes is due to its wide-ranging scope to involve the lives of the children and young people participating. It is a complete discipline including the use of rules, philosophy, positive group ethics, physical condition and values of self-esteem. The International Olympics Committee considers it the only Brazilian martial art.

On 30th.January 2005 our Centro de Capoeira Beija-Flor held its traditional Capoeira Batizado or graduation ceremony, where more than 60 children and young people graduated to a higher level in this remarkable art. Around 300 people attended the event, including family members, friends and community, capoeira enthusiasts and masters from other academies who also participated during the actual ceremony.

See the photo display from yesterday’s event to get a better understanding of the importance of Capoeira in our programme.

Friday, January 14, 2005

THE COLIBRI MAN (“Kolibrimannen”)

Gregory Smith stays connected with at-risk communities and their children
Gregory Smith was the target for a new documentary film made by Norwegian National Television (NRK 1), screened last Monday.

Norwegian National Television.

“FAKTOR” - NRK 1, Monday, January 10th. at 19.55hrs. or online now!

NRK’s follow-up on Gregory Smith and CARF’s decade of work with street children and other at-risk children in Brazil, is the latest documentary film in NRK’s weekly series “FAKTOR”. “Colibri Man” is a strong and emotional film about a man who has shown that it is possible to turn street children from “cockroaches” into unique and beautiful Hummingbirds.

Sandra was one of the first street children to be rescued by Gregory Smith in 1993   Sandra today, great changes have taken place in her life during the last decade
In the left photo, Sandra is seen sitting on a park bench on the famous Praça da Sé in São Paulo, surrounded by other abandoned street children. That was back in 1993, when she spent almost three years of her life living on the streets. Today, she lives an independent life together with her husband Marcio and their little son Patrick.

In FAKTOR subject matter is important, and is focused on through the stories of engaged individuals who’s lives and experiences evolve around the subject matter. Through journalistic focusing, FAKTOR brings viewers closer to these people, their pursuits and the environments which they live and work in, so that their stories are given a wider perspective than just one of individual destiny. FAKTOR’s choice of theme and personality offers insight into a unique milieu and normally invites the viewers to reflect over the stories being told, which are usually anchored in Norwegian reality to create easy identification and recognition. They also tell us something about the country they represent.

Watch the film The film is now available for online viewing on the NRK web site (in Norwegian).The programme series is called FAKTOR and the programme date 10.01.05.

Enjoy the film!


Gregory J. Smith, Social Entrepreneur and Founder of The Children At Risk Foundation - CARF
In connection with the film screening, the Norwegian Newspaper, BT-Bergens Tidende is running an online chat/discussion session with Gregory Smith, starting on Tuesday, January 11th. at 13.00hrs. Here you have the opportunity to ask any questions you may have regarding the theme or person depicted in NRK’s documentary film.

CLICK HERE to send your message or question to Gregory Smith or to read exsisting messages. You may write Norwegian, English or Portuguese.

To read about the background and making of this film, please visit an earlier article on this Blog called, “FOLLOW-UP BY NORWEGIAN TV”

Sunday, January 02, 2005

WHAT’S OUR GREATEST WISH FOR 2005?

Our heavenly wish for 2005 is a scholarship
What more heavenly wish could one dream for than a capacity building scholarship to help us to realise our objectives!

“We aim to raise the number of Capacity Building Scholarships for the children and young people of Hummingbird.”


In the traditional sense, one definition by Western standards, a scholarship may be a financial reward/grant to attend a school, generally college. CARF’s Scholarship Programme is unique and aims to preserve the positive development of a safe and healthy environment for at-risk children and youth, safeguarding the process of growing up to become responsible and productive citizens. For underprivileged community children or former street kids, a scholarship signifies a whole new world of possibilities at the Hummingbird Activity Centre, besides assuring their basic education.

In 2004, we managed 20 scholarships supported by either private individuals or organizations. Our aim is to triple that number by the end of 2005. If you would like to help us then please read on!


Young aspiring artists may even make their living from Art in the future In Brazil and other countries across the globe, Capoeira is offering many opportunities for those well enough prepared A nurturing environment for musical, artistic and cultural development against all forms of violence Elezeu proudly gave his “Thinker” to the King and Queen of Norway on their official visit to Brazil last year
In a nurturing environment for musical, artistic and cultural development, scholarships help our children to realise their objectives.

In Brazil, social training and educational programmes have today become essential in facilitating the "safe passage" to socially constructive adulthoods for potentially delinquent children and adolescents from underprivileged communities, which far too often cultivate antisocial forms of behaviour. Building on the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”, such programmes intend to integrate psychosocial activities into a child's basic education and are essential if high-risk children and youth are to establish or maintain the “basic trust” in adult authority that is considered to underlie successful social adaptation.

Célio was an impoverished kid from the favela Moro de Cantegalo.
Célio was once an impoverished kid growing up in the famous “Moro de Cantegalo” favela in Rio de Janeiro. Today, thanks to the support he received, he is a flourishing artist with a great future.

Good examples of communities with NGO’s involved, successfully creating safe environments for at-risk children and adolescents, are today becoming more common in and around the big Brazilian cities. Local governments are also becoming aware of their importance and some are now supporting such initiatives.

Unfortunately not all children from at-risk communities have regular access to such healthy environments as offered by CARF’s Hummingbird Activity Centre, which not only offers self-awareness, self-love, and self-esteem, but also guarantees the child’s moral and emotional intelligence by building development assets in young people based on the categories of support, empowerment, boundaries, constructive use of time, commitment to learning, positive values, social competencies, and positive identity. These important factors in the process of growing up to become successful young adults are essential if we are to combat degeneration in such societies. This process not only needs time and patience, but also financial support to thrive and this is where you our supporters can really make a difference!

Concentration is something many of our children lack, but art help leads the way to a positive development Likewise, music leads the way to higher self-esteem Ashoka Fellow Matthew Johnson from Strive Media Institute (USA) knows much about positive youth development in the US – See our videos online at right, made by his young people Roger is our youngest Capoeira apprentice trainer and shortly to become a scholarship holder in 2005. He has natural leader abilities in the sport and already teaches other children in our academy
Concentration and self-esteem need to be strengthened in many of our children and most activities at Hummingbird are beneficial in that direction. Likewise, Capoeira combines all aspects of art, music, theatre and movement. It is the complete sport. Check out our web site at: Capoeira Beija-Flor

CARF’s Children & Youth Capacity Building Scholarships contain the following elements:


Scholarship recipients must participate an average of 20 hours per week in a CARF sponsored development programme. Attendance and participation is monitored and recorded weekly.

They must maintain the regular public school attendance of up to 20 hours per week.

Scholarships are used to pay for their educational materials, travel costs on public transportation and other personal necessities. In addition, they help pay for supplementary external activities or educational courses, which are crucial in enhancing future job and life opportunities.

Scholarships can also assist with some family expenses such as part of the electric bill or basic foodstuffs, which is often expected from teenagers in the family structure once they reach a “working” age.

By helping to contribute to the family expenses, this also helps take family pressures off the youth to go after temporary, informal jobs, which often interfere with any further educational progression.

Banda Beija-Flor is a strong example of how youth have benfitted from Capacity Building Scholarships at Hummingbird

Scholarships allow youth to be involved in educational and vocational training programmes at CARF’s Hummingbird Activity Centre (ECBF – Espaço Cultural Beija-Flor), strengthening their individual life project as opposed to hustling to make money or becoming involved in the ever-present drug trafficking that is profuse in most underprivileged communities in Brazil.

The programme includes regular orientation and education regarding drugs, alcohol, sex, citizenship and money management.

Monitoring of the current family situation helps motivate parent/guardian involvement and safeguards against improper use of the scholarship, giving maximum priority to funding their selected programme activities.

Ronito has been with our programme since 1994 and today is youth football trainer for 130 children at Hummingbird Altair from Grupo Cultural Afro Reggae in Rio de Janeiro shares some of his growing experience with our youth during this interaction LG from the Banda AfroReggae in Rio interacts with children in our percussion workshop at Hummingbird Dino was once involved in crime and drugs, now he is one of Hummingbird’s Capoeira instructors
Thanks to our supporters, several of our young people have received great opportunities and are today multiplying their growing experiences with other children at Hummingbird. Interactions with youth from allied projects such as GCAR – Grupo Cultural Afro Reggae are inspiring moments for further development.

If you would like to become a regular sponsor for any of our scholarships, please subscribe by clicking on the PayPal Subscription Button of your choice, at the very bottom of this page. Subscriptions are monthly and will be confirmed by e-mail. They may be cancelled at any time. As a regular sponsor you will have the opportunity to stay in contact with your scholarship holder and to follow the changes your sponsorship will be making in this young person's life.

Our heavenly wish for 2005 is a scholarship
13 year old Jason looks forward to 2005 in the hope that he will find a sponsor for his scholarship. With a brother still on the streets and own experiences from the streets and FEBEM (Juvenile Detention Centre), Jason literally clings onto the hope that Norwegian National Television's film team, Steiner Birkeland and Thomas Hellum, will arouse the interest of many new sponsors for the Hummingbird Project when their documentary about CARF is viewed in Norway on January 10th. Jason is a talented songwriter and Rapper and his ambitions are in that direction.

CARF's Hummingbird Project provides scholarships on three different levels:



    BASIC – USD$40.00 - $50.00 per month.
Aimed at impoverished younger children participating in our Street Migration Prevention Programme
Aimed at impoverished younger children participating in our Street Migration Prevention Programme, normally aged between 11 and 14 years of age. This scholarship guarantees their active participation at the Hummingbird Activity Center alongside their essential attendance in public schools. The scholarship helps combat child labor in high-risk families by preventing these children becoming new victims.
The scholarship is awarded to those in particularly difficult life situations where survival often becomes a more important factor than the child’s educational needs and mental and physical health.


    INTERMEDIATE - USD$60.00 - $70.00 per month.
Aimed at developing vocational interests in young people as they grow with our programme
This youth scholarship is aimed at developing vocational interests in young people as they grow with our programme, guaranteeing their commitment and eventually leading them on towards an advanced scholarship. A firmer step towards their personal life project.


    ADVANCED - USD$80.00 - $100.00 per month.
Aimed to inspire older youth reach their potential in whatever area they are developing natural or acquired abilities in programmes at the Hummingbird Activity Centre.
Aimed to inspire older youth reach their potential in whatever area they are developing natural or acquired abilities in programmes at the Hummingbird Activity Centre. The scholarship can be used to cover costs for supplementary, external educational courses or for extra training sessions and materials. Such funds would otherwise be an impossible priority for them to obtain within an impoverished family situation.

Please Note: As we aim for a flexible solution so as to be able to satisfy the specific needs of each scholarship holder according to the nature of their individual life project and associated costs, the final value of their particular scholarship can vary somewhat within the above stated amounts, which are meant as a general guideline.

Children from Hummingbird playing out the role of street kids in a theatrical performance
It’s comforting to know that this scene is one taken from a theatrical performance at Hummingbird. Many of our children know only too well how damaging life on the streets can really be, they have been there themselves. Our Capacity Building Scholarship Programme is one way of securing a positive future development for these children.

“We cannot rescue all the children at risk in Brazil, but if each privileged individual would "adopt" just one child, our workload would certainly diminish.”






Basic Scholarships – USD$40.00 - $50.00 per month

Aimed at impoverished younger children participating in our Street Migration Prevention Programme, normally aged between 11 and 14 years of age. This scholarship guarantees their active participation at the Hummingbird Activity Center alongside their essential attendance in public schools. The scholarship helps combat child labor in high-risk families by preventing these children becoming new victims. The scholarship is awarded to those in particularly difficult life situations where survival often becomes a more important factor than the child’s educational needs and mental and physical health. As a regular sponsor you will have the opportunity to stay in contact with your scholarship holder and to follow the changes your sponsorship will be making in this child's life.

Intermediate Scholarships - USD$60.00 - $70.00 per month

This youth scholarship is aimed at developing vocational interests in young people as they grow with our programme, guaranteeing their commitment and eventually leading them on towards an advanced scholarship. A firmer step towards their personal life project. As a regular sponsor you will have the opportunity to stay in contact with your scholarship holder and to follow the changes your sponsorship will be making in this young person's life.

Advanced Scholarship - USD$80.00 - $100.00 per month

Aimed to inspire older youth reach their potential in whatever area they are developing natural or acquired abilities in programmes at the Hummingbird Activity Centre. The scholarship can be used to cover costs for supplementary, external educational courses or for extra training sessions and materials. Such funds would otherwise be an impossible priority for them to obtain within an impoverished family situation. As a regular sponsor you will have the opportunity to stay in contact with your scholarship holder and to follow the changes your sponsorship will be making in this young person's life.

"THE RICH MUST LIVE MORE SIMPLY SO THAT THE POOR MAY SIMPLY LIVE." - Mahatma Gandhi