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| University of Nebraska Students at Gol de Letra - Caju, Rio de Janiero |
Gol de Letra is a non-profit private organization founded by former Brazilian soccer players, Rai and Leonardo in Sao Paulo on Dec. 10, 1998. In 2006 they expanded to Rio de Janiero. This foundation has a mission to “contribute to educational and cultural development of kids and youngsters, allowing them to act with autonomy in the transformation of their reality,” according to the foundation website. (http://www.goldeletra.org.br/)
Today, we were able to witness the unfolding of this mission statement. The coordinator assistant, Michelle Mendes Baçal, welcomed us and shared about the work and services provided in the district of Caju, Rio de Janiero. Caju is composed of 8 favelas not yet pacified, and Gol de Letras serves as a community resource center and after school program for children and adolescents. Currently there are around 295 children on a waitlist and 280 youth enrolled at Caju. Children go to the center 3 times a week to take part in the different activities.
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| Presentation of services and programs at Gol de Letra from coordinator assistant Michelle Mendes Bacal. |
Founded as it was by soccer stars it is not surprising that sports are a big part of the foundation’s activities. However, like the NGO we previously visited, Vila Olimpica da Mare, Gol de Letra also uses sports as a tool to connect with the children. Sports serve as an entry point into their principle purpose to aid educational and cultural development. “Gol de letra” can be roughly translated to mean, “Point of literacy,” which correlates with their main focus on overcoming illiteracy.
Their program Dois Toques, or Two Touches, focuses on physical education, sports, and leisure, in conjunction with reading and writing. Dois Toques is for children ages 7 to 15. Here they get help in reading and writing and participate in sports, art, and social activities. This satisfies their mission for literacy and education. For the cultural development aspect of their mission, they offer Projecto Gol de Cultura, or Cultural Goal Project, with a focus on retaining Brazilian cultural traditions and heritage through storytelling, music, dance, and so on.
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| Book written and illustrated by children at Gol de Letra |
As a gift, we received a copy of a book the children wrote and illustrated themselves. The book was the product of a project in which the children were able to express and tell their own stories or their own version of stories such as Harry Potter in Caju. In addition, we were welcomed to sit in on one of their cultural dance classes. The children were practicing a dance to a traditional Brazilian rhythm called Xote. I cannot adequately express the joy I felt transmitted from these children as I watched the enjoyment and pride with which they danced fully emerged in their culture. I was moved with the foundation’s effort to preserve cultural legends, folklore, traditional sounds, and dances in a way that allowed the children to take pride in who they are.
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| Children practicing dance to Xote - a Brazilian rhythm. |
In addition, Michelle told us about their, Programa gol de Trabalho, or Work Program Goal, serving young adults ages 16 to 30. They help youth find jobs and provide skill training. Lastly, we learned about their Associação Gol de Letra França, or Association Gol de Letra France. Through this program a group of children ages 13 and older participate in a 20 day exchange with a foundation in France. This opportunity to travel abroad is huge for these children from low-income households. However, what is even greater is that this lifetime experience has the potential to open the door to higher thinking and a world of possibilities just as this opportunity to experience Brazil has done for us University of Nebraska students.
Like all services and activities at Gol de Letra, the expenses of this trip are completely paid for and are at no cost for the children and their families. The trip is government sponsored and a fundraiser is organized in Copacabana, In it big Brazilian companies and sometimes celebrities are invited to buy a table and participate in funding the project. The foundation is funded and supported in large part by United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). From soccer to improving literacy and from preserving Brazilian culture to experiencing another culture in France, Gol de Letra is doing great things for communities like Caju and is acknowledged by UNESCO as a model for other worldwide foundations.
I believe programs like these can make a real difference in the life of many people. Especially in Favelas, children need organizations that help them develop their skills, provide role models, and helps them realize that they have the support, personal ability, and opportunities to live a better life. I was impressed with the story book they gave us at the end of our tour. It really shows that kids are capable of great things if those natural abilities are nurtured. What is more important, is that in Brazil most schools are in session only for 4 hours a day. Students either attend school from 8am-12pm or 1pm-5pm, meaning that they have the free time to hang out on the streets. This is particularly dangerous for poor kids who live in Favelas because they can easily be enticed with the drug world including easy money, violence, and substance abuse. Organizations like Gol de Letra make a real difference in the life of many kids and help spark their interest in a bright future. Gol de Letra is using kids' curiosity to teach them new things like foreign languages, sports, dance, and how to read with the power of play. I think these organizations are key to the prosperous future of Brazil because they are changing the lives of kids early enough that will influence them positively as they grow.
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