{"id":25348,"date":"2015-11-26T12:47:32","date_gmt":"2015-11-26T15:47:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=25348"},"modified":"2015-12-04T08:49:41","modified_gmt":"2015-12-04T11:49:41","slug":"todospeloalemao-changemaking-community-projects-in-alemao-participate-in-collective-crowdfunding-campaign","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=25348","title":{"rendered":"Community Projects in Alem\u00e3o Hold Collective Crowdfunding Campaign #TodosPeloAlem\u00e3o"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas\"\"<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

Eight\u00a0community projects in <\/span>Complexo do Alem\u00e3o<\/a>\u00a0are participating in a joint\u00a0crowdfunding campaign entitled\u00a0<\/span>#TodosPeloAlem\u00e3o<\/a>\u00a0(#AllForAlem\u00e3o). The campaign began on October 13 and ends on December 15 and has reached 33% of its goal of R$60,000. The campaign was initiated by\u00a0Via Varejo<\/a>, a large national retail company with stores in Alem\u00e3o, after opening a process to select eight community projects. Via Varejo promises to match all donations raised via the crowdfunding campaign<\/a>, ultimately delivering an award of R$15,000 to each of the community projects featured. To support the campaign\u00a0in English, visit the final paragraph below.<\/span><\/p>\n

Coming together to raise funds is a model that\u00a0Mariluce Mari\u00e1<\/a>\u00a0from Favela Art, one of the eight community organizations involved with the campaign, recommends for other community projects. “Doing a campaign with other projects gives it more force,” she said. “Collectively you have the support of others and can show other projects. People donate not just to one project, they donate to all of them.” Unfortunately, she warns,\u00a0“It’s been confusing for the majority of the community. People think we’ve already received the R$15,000.”<\/p>\n

The community projects\u00a0involved also hope the initiative will raise awareness about the importance of Alem\u00e3o’s community-based organizations. Mari\u00e1 said: “The ideal for us isn’t just to raise funds. Visibility is very important so people can know the projects and they become visible.”<\/p>\n

\"Mariluce<\/a><\/p>\n

Visibility and funds for these projects is of paramount importance at this time of escalating violence<\/a>\u00a0in\u00a0Complexo do Alem\u00e3o, with recent events making\u00a0international news<\/a>. The community has responded in various ways, including through\u00a0peaceful protests<\/a>\u00a0calling for an end to\u00a0police violence<\/a>. The presence of the Pacifying Police Unit (UPP)<\/a> since 2012<\/a>\u00a0has failed to bring peace to the large favela complex and violent clashes continue. The\u00a0community groups involved in the crowdfunding campaign demonstrate an alternative path to peace in the community while changing the image of their community and its\u00a0residents through art<\/a>, welfare<\/a>, education<\/a>, sports<\/a>, music<\/a>, digital inclusion<\/a> and professional training.<\/p>\n

Each participating project has a specific goal in mind should\u00a0the campaign be successful. Find out more about the eight projects below:<\/p>\n

Creche Algod\u00e3o Doce<\/h3>\n

\"Creche<\/a><\/p>\n

Created in 2011 by Andreia de Oliveira, Creche Algod\u00e3o Doce<\/a>\u00a0(Cotton Candy Daycare) looks after\u00a048 children daily. The daycare makes it easier for many women in the community to work and serves as an educational space for children in the community. Their goal is to expand the daycare to support 40 more children.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that a quality education transforms lives.\u201d \u2013 Andreia de Oliveira, Creche Algod\u00e3o Doce<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Espindola Team<\/h3>\n

\"Espindola<\/a><\/p>\n

Espindola Team<\/a> currently offers kickboxing classes to close to 70 children and adults. The organization prides itself on developing the\u00a0character and values of their students. They hope to host the first Martial Arts Tournament in Complexo do Alem\u00e3o for around 1,000 people by investing in infrastructure and equipment, which will allow them to take in\u00a0more students.<\/p>\n

“We’re proud to see students training hard and putting themselves out there in competitions with force and determination. We incentivize our kids and young people so they can build their own dreams and seek out the good.”\u00a0– Raphael Espindola, Espindola Team<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Favela Art<\/h3>\n

\"Favela<\/a><\/p>\n

Favela Art<\/a> was founded by Mariluce Mari\u00e1 de Souza and her husband when they had<\/a> a favela tour<\/a> business called Turismo no Alem\u00e3o and realized there were no souvenirs to represent their community. She decided to start painting Complexo do Alem\u00e3o on canvases. In 2014, Turismo no Alem\u00e3o closed due to\u00a0growing confrontations<\/a> between the police and drug traffickers<\/a>, but Favela Art has nonetheless prospered. Mariluce holds painting workshops in the community, while\u00a0also filling Alem\u00e3o’s walls with colorful murals with the help of about 30 children. She hopes to restructure her studio and invite 30 more children to her project to continue beautifying the community.<\/p>\n

“We want to involve as many people as we can\u00a0with art and transform the Alem\u00e3o scenery with new colors.”\u00a0– Mariluce Mari\u00e1, Favela Art<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ag\u00eancia Novo Complexo de Alem\u00e3o (NCA)<\/h3>\n

\"Novo<\/a><\/p>\n

NCA<\/a> serves as an employment agency in the community that offers social services and personal coaching. The organization offers workshops to improve resum\u00e9s and strengthen interview skills with the goal of helping residents access better jobs. Should the campaign be successful, they will\u00a0host a job fair in the community presenting\u00a0over 1,000 employment opportunities.<\/p>\n

“We are the showcase of the community’s invisible talents.” – Robson Santos, Ag\u00eancia Novo Complexo de Alem\u00e3o<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Na Ponta dos P\u00e9s<\/h3>\n

\"Na<\/a><\/p>\n

In 2011, ballerina and gymnast Tuany Nascimento, 20, participated in Gymnaestrada, the biggest gymnastics event in the world. She decided to bring her passion back to her community with Na Ponta dos P\u00e9s<\/a>\u00a0(On Tiptoes). Every year, she works with 40 new girls between the ages of 4 and 15 in the sports court in Morro do Adeus<\/a>. Her dream is to build\u00a0a ballet studio to train 60 more dancers a year.<\/p>\n

“By contributing to the training of a ballerina, we challenge her reality. She gains new hope in her life.”\u00a0 \u2013 Tuany Nascimento, Na Ponta dos P\u00e9s<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

GatoM\u00cdDIA<\/h3>\n

\"GatoM\u00cdDIA.<\/a><\/p>\n

GatoM\u00cdDIA<\/a> believes that everyone has the right to gain visibility through technology. They have created 15 workshops in photography, video, live transmission, Internet, collaborative coverage, as well as social media. GatoM\u00cdDIA provides skills so\u00a0community members can promote their work, projects, and causes. They currently offer workshops to close to 100 young adults, and hope to increase their efforts to invite 100 more students.<\/p>\n

“Visibility is a right that begets other rights. We believe in media activism as a tool of youth empowerment.”\u00a0– Thamyra Th\u00e2mara de Ara\u00fajo<\/a>, GatoM\u00cdDIA<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Projeto Paloma<\/h3>\n

\"Projeto<\/a><\/p>\n

For ten years\u00a0Projeto Paloma<\/a> has aided and supported community members who have suffered\u00a0accidents through free physical therapy and rehabilitation. The project works to reintegrate their patients into society by helping them regain a\u00a0sense of independence and by supporting them in maintaining the same daily routine as before their accident. Now, they are able to assist 22 patients. They hope the campaign will allow them to equip a new facility that will allow them to support up to 60 people at a time.<\/p>\n

“We fight to reclaim dignity and contribute to the health of hundreds of people, often victims of stray bullets and other tragedies.”\u00a0\u00a0– M\u00f4nica Cirne, Projeto Paloma<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ritmo do Complexo<\/h3>\n

\"Ritmo<\/a><\/p>\n

Ritmo do Complexo<\/a>\u00a0(Rhythm of the Complex) is a samba school that works to maintain the culture of Complexo do Alem\u00e3o through music workshops for children. They offer percussion classes for 30 children, and hope to expand to 90 more students thanks to this campaign. They also plan\u00a0to purchase uniforms and more instruments.<\/p>\n

“We believe that by investing in children we are building a new future. The person who doesn’t fight to see the future they want has to accept the future that comes.”\u00a0– Lu\u00eds Cl\u00e1udio Silva, Ritmo do Complexo<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Watch the #TodosPeloAlem\u00e3o campaign video:<\/h3>\n