{"id":64103,"date":"2021-02-05T16:46:47","date_gmt":"2021-02-05T19:46:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=64103"},"modified":"2021-02-10T12:22:45","modified_gmt":"2021-02-10T15:22:45","slug":"recreating-roots-transforming-empowering-and-saving-young-lives-in-costa-barros-profile","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=64103","title":{"rendered":"Recreating Roots: Transforming, Empowering, and Saving Young Lives in Costa Barros [PROFILE]"},"content":{"rendered":"

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

This is our latest article about\u00a0<\/i>Covid-19 and its impacts on the favelas<\/a>.<\/i><\/em><\/p>\n

\u2018Help Me Recreate My Life\u2019<\/h3>\n

These were the last words Ilma Rocha would hear from a young teen whose life would end tragically due to violence in Quitanda, Costa Barros<\/a> in 2006. However, his words of courage would help spark a movement to help end violence and bring life to her community through social projects dedicated to <\/span>empowering<\/span><\/a> youth and families in the region. Costa Barros is a neighborhood formed mainly by a group of favelas in Rio de Janeiro\u2019s <\/span>North Zone<\/span><\/a>. This area <\/span>has historically been <\/span>depicted by the press as crime-ravaged<\/span><\/a> and often described by its second to last ranking in the Human Development Index<\/a> in the early 2000s. But there is much more to this community, like a strong will for progress, and many dreams to be fulfilled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Today Rocha or, as the young people she serves call her, <\/span>Tia Ilma<\/span><\/i> (Auntie Ilma), recounts this transformative memory from 2006, which inspired the name and vision of the now established social project known as Recreating Roots<\/a>. This life-changing moment served as a catalyst to leave her old life behind as a hairdresser and dedicate her life to saving others. Recreating Roots is a tribute to the young man she did not know how to help years ago, but whose memory would serve as a reminder of her commitment to her community and her will to do everything possible to prevent the loss of another young life.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

With the support of co-founder and friend Alba Almeida, she decided they would do something about the crisis in their community and began by offering free hair braiding to youth out of their hair salon<\/a>. Seeing the positive impact and growing interest, they decided to find a space to show movies and provide a safe haven for local youth. A community member offered a small place to host 60 kids in Quitanda, which would mark the first event of Recreating Roots, which validated the need for a safe space and programming for local youth. And so, the search began for a place to rent for children and youth.<\/span><\/p>\n

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

The community came together and found a place to rent, but conditions were less than adequate. Rain, rats, and a falling roof consumed the space. This was not what they had imagined and with personal funds exhausted, Rocha thought of closing the project’s doors. However, one day, the kids came together and fundraised to keep them open. After witnessing the solidarity and unity of the youth, she knew that Recreating Roots would never close its doors again, as long as there were children and the community members\u2019 support. Today, Recreating Roots has received support not only from community members but also from sponsors and organizations that believe in the mission and vision of the local social project.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u2018The Community Itself is United\u2019<\/h3>\n

During the <\/span>coronavirus<\/span><\/a> outbreak and due to the harsher effects of the <\/span>pandemic on the favelas<\/span><\/a>, favela residents have been disproportionately affected by the lack of data, support services from the state, and infrastructure to maintain safe and sanitary conditions for all residents. There are families going <\/span>hungry due to unemployment<\/span><\/a>, some <\/span>families needing sanitary supplies<\/span><\/a>, and some, even those with members suffering from Covid-19, with only <\/span>limited access to health care<\/span><\/a>. However, there is a <\/span>special unity and solidarity in favelas<\/span><\/a>, particularly visible in the face of adversity. Rocha believes this is the true magic and strength of her favela community. She elaborates further explaining how the community itself is united and even more so when challenges arise. For example, Recreating Roots helped organize the distribution of foodstuffs and supplies to community members in need through an initiative called Fome Nunca Mais<\/a> (Hunger Never Again). Community members received care packages and, in an act of selflessness, many would then redistribute their own to a family who they believed needed it more than they.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n