FOLLOW-UP BY NORWEGIAN TV

Hairdressing at Hummingbird - Cut! Cut! No! Not the filming, his hair!

“ Capturing and disseminating these hopeful images of a better future for Brazil’s many underprivileged children is the best way of creating public awareness and mobilizing
support for our actions. ”

During the last year, any newcomers to CARF’s recuperation and prevention centre in São Paulo would have probably mistaken the colourful, thriving village of Hummingbird for something close to a Hollywood film studio, due to the fact that they would most likely have bumped into a camera lens at one time or another (if not that, then maybe the peaceful cows passing-by from the neighbourhood!). Having been the scene for several documentary programmes for television channels in the US, Brazil and Norway recently, it must have been quite impossible not to imagine oneself as the new Shirley Temple or Macaulay Culkin during all the film takes! Keep your heads on straight kids! No need to panic! This is not some Hollywood movie, just a real-life extract of the day-to-day life at our Hummingbird Activity Centre, where more than 600 children and young people spend most of their time, before or after normal school hours. Latest in line on our clapboard is a follow-up of a documentary film made in 1994 by NRK’s Egil Rafto, reflecting over the past ten years of CARF and Gregory Smith’s actions to protect street children and other children at risk from some of the harsh realities of Brazilian society. Sorry to say, Egil passed away on 7th. January 1997 before he had a chance to realise his ideas for a follow-up of the ’94 film. Knowing well of his intentions, journalist friend and colleague, Steiner Birkeland, took it upon himself to realise Egil’s desire to make this follow-up, together with cameraman Thomas Hellum, both from the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation – NRK.

It seems that the neighbourhood’s cows enjoy just as much our football grounds as do our children. Seeing the moving images and listening to the sounds through a digital camera is a fascinating experience for the children. Easy to notice the difference in the optimistic smiles of the children at Hummingbird, compared to those on the streets. Our colourful thriving village at Hummingbird prevents children from going to the streets. Fading away in their fantasy world by sniffing glue and abusing other drugs is often the only possibility of escaping the realities of the streets.

Trying to make the most of what little one has is a common plight for most children from poverty stricken communities in Brazil. The efforts of NGO’s like ours is of great value to them.

Besides sporadic film-takes in Norway, a solid week’s filming onsite in Brazil was necessary to record enough material for the new documentary. Being as most of CARF’s activities in Brazil are centred in and around their Hummingbird Activity Centre, this also became the obvious base for our film crew from Norway. Filming took place all hours of the day and night, under whatever circumstances happened to appear, the idea having been to capture the reality of CARF and Gregory Smith’s efforts during the last ten years recuperating street children in Brazil. This was no easy task as the work of CARF has multiple facets and affects a multitude of children together with their families from the communities that surround Hummingbird. Filming in the favelas was a must if one was to better understand the reasons for CARF’s Street Migration Prevention Programme in this region. Not to mention the situation still evident for many of Brazil’s abandoned children, doomed to a tough life on the streets of the country’s mega cities. In contrast to these disheartening scenes came the explosion of happy smiles from all the contented children at Hummingbird. Following threads sown in 1993 to 1994, it was important to follow-up on the lives of the first street children taken off the streets during the initial years of CARF’s activities in São Paulo’s city centre. Here were many enlightening stories, but also tragic ones too that needed to be told.

Filming attracts a great deal of attention in the underprivileged communities and most children love the opportunity to perform in front of the camera. Life at home is quite contrasting to that at Hummingbird. For many children this fulfils an empty space in their lives and prevents them from pursuing other solutions, like seeking the streets for excitement or peace of mind. A fantasy world created by drugs is not necessary at Hummingbird, where most dreams can become a reality if a child really wants to follow his or her desires. A smile is never far off at the Hummingbird Activity Centre, where peace and respect for each other is a pre-requisite.

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The results of all these efforts will be made available to television viewers on the 10th. January 2005, when the finished film is due to be released on NRK television in Norway.
NB! You can now watch the film "Kolibrimannen"

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8 years of working preventively in our community has created bonds and established respectful relationships. These themselves are qualities which prevent many at-risk children from hitting the streets.

Why not light a candle at Christmas in support of the children in our Street Migration Prevention Programme at the Hummingbird Activity Centre. Please make your safe online contribution by clicking on the photo below. All donations to our Street Children's Memorial Fund support this programme.