Womblekisses's travel blogs:
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Karate, football and so much more.
Entry 23 of 33 | show all | print this entry |
I wanted to say lots about the Karate club at the Ruben Gomez CIEP School where I work but this is Rio and things never quite go as you planned. However, what I can say is that there are people who work very hard to keep the kids off the streets away from crime and drugs. One way, of course, is by encouraging dedication to sports. In this school there are two avenues ... one the Karate Club, run entirely by volunteers, who somehow manage to raise enough funds to ensure the children are properly kitted out and even able to attend competitions. The youngsters take the sport very seriously; I believe I mentioned the thirteen year old black belt who is capable of leading a class. (She has 6 siblings, lives in a two roomed house and looks about 17).Perhaps there are one or two Karate clubs out there with time to spare who could help in some way.... as you read through the rest of this I hope everyone will begin to realise just how much difference this kind of activity makes to these kids.
The other sport of course is football. On Friday Marcelo (more of him later) was even more boistrous than usual because the boys´ team he works with won an important local match. He proudly showed us the wonderful row of trophies earned by the team. As with the Karate, they have only what is donated and every victory is hard earned by these guys who put so much effort into helping these kids without ever seeking any kind of reward, except maybe, success.
What a week we had, there is neither time nor space for everything but a brief diary may give a glimpse...
Wednesday: Pizza party at school. Marked the end of the summer holidays; children back next week. Most popular pizza, bananna and Leida´s chocolate cake was fantastic. As a way ofexplaining the dip in the middle she just told us it would taste better than it looked ....she was right and if I ever manage to get the recipe it will become a family favourite. We decided if we could cope with the amount of noise made by the teachers then the children would be easy.
Thursday: All staff at school so everywhere very busy, but we continued with our small group of students until having just started the fun bit ... and having the smallest girl standing in the bin... we were called by the school principal to join the staff. This was great for us but rather perplexing for the group we left behind.
Lisa and I were introduced to the assembled staff and received a round of applause after which we sat with them to hear the head´s speach. It was impossible for me to understand but Lisa got the gist they were speaking about the need to work hard and that God would help them. Leida said some similar things but also they should work for NOW, not simply wait ten years for things to improve. She also said they should be grateful for what they have and they have sufficient food and water. To finish there was a hymn, followed by drinks and food.
Lisa and I had planned to chat with the Karate leader after this but were offered a lift to the Metro. It turned out to be a very interesting ride because we took the same route as the metro but instead of viewing from a pristine cacoon we saw graphitied walls, small homes, a few shops and dusty roads. Close to the school the homes are close together, often built of those porous red bricks, but as we left those districts behind the houses and the roads were better and our final destination a total contrast. It was the massive Americano Shopping Centre which would sit as comfortably in any city worldwide; inside was cool, pristine and shiny; shops displayed goods of all kinds and the book shop was the biggest I have seen in a long time.
Friday: Last day with our very small class so we had drinks and biscuits as we played the game postponed from yesterday.
It had been arranged that after the class Marcelo would show us around the favella where he lives. Marcelo is, I guess, in his forties, medium height, with the usual good looks and black hair. He knows everyone and as wewalked he called to each person, sometimes introducing us, but others just leaving them to wonder.
One woman asked him who we were.
``Gringos`` he told her. She nodded and passed by maybe wondering why on earth we would want to walk through her streets.
Marcelo told us (through our interpreter Cayo) not to be concerned should we see a gun anywhere because this was normal.
Along a narrow street beyond the tall iron gates, beyond the notice saying these gates would be closed at night, we climbed a narrow cement staircase to the covered open-sided level of a house; the owner welcomed us even though he clearly had not been expecting visitors. From here the surrounding houses looked small, but homely and everywhere it is clear that people are constantly sweeping, cleaning, making the most of the little they have. Just below a mass of wires wound round stout posts three children played football; from the house opposite loud music assaulted us, raucous and very,very loud. Across the footbridge,which goes over the railway line I could see the other favella; with a steep winding road which must be very muddy and treacherous after rain. At the small social centre and school in the favella a teacher told us that not all children could attend here because they come from rival gangs; thus they had to attend a similar establishment in their own area.
That was just a small part of Friday ....later the Capouira contest which is deserving of a blog all to itself. In fact each of these subjects is worthy of more time and space than I have given them ....the amount left out would fill a book and with a good writer hold your interest throughout.
However, this is plenty for now ...you have had your fill; your eyes are drooping and you are hoping this will soon end ... for now then good bye, but I must tell everyone about the amazing Capouira while it is still fresh in my memory so until tomorrow at home or travelling stay safe.
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