CARF DOCUMENTARY MEETS HEAVY COMPETITION.

CARF's founder, Gregory Smith, on a home visit to some of the children in the Hummingbird Programme.

NRK - Norwegian National Television's Documentary attracts many viewers, inbetween tragic scenes of the Tsunami disaster.

Unfortunately, NRK’s documentary film about CARF’s decade of work with street children and other children at risk in Brazil was shadowed by the terrible world tragedy of the Asian Tsunami. Nevertheless, the film attracted a large number of viewers on Norwegian Television and judging from their reactions posted to the online chat session immediately following the programme, the film was a great success.

The film covered not only the happy moments of the past, but also sad ones, like the death of Diego, Gregory's first "adopted" son from the streets, who was murdered by thugs only a year ago.


Diego's story is an example of how frustrating the work can be, recuperating street children in Brazil. Read more about him by clicking on the Diptych above.

But there were also success stories like the one about Robison below, who after having left a life abandoned on the streets in 1998, has managed to find new values through the opportunities offered by CARF's programmes at the Hummingbird Activity Centre in São Paulo, Brazil.


Robison's story is an example of how successful our work recuperating street children in Brazil can also be. Read more about him by clicking on the Diptych above.

The following were extracts from the online chat session immediately following the TV viewing of the film:

I watched the programme and just wanted to tell you how fantastic I think the work you are doing is!! - Anne-Lise

Congratulations with your fantastic efforts for children in Brazil. I sometimes travel to Brazil in connection with my job, mostly to Rio. Do you have plans to expand to Rio? As you well know, the necessities are enormous there too. I really hope you get a lot of support from the business community in the future and that there is just as much focus on Brasil's poverty as there is on the situation in SE Asia... - A Brazil Friend.

We must say what a fabulous job you have done and we can see that you have achieved much more than we would have expected in a country like Brazil. - Jarl and Gill who co-operate with another children's project in Bahia.

I watched the TV-programme about your work and I must say what a strong impression it made on me. To see helpless, hungry and abandoned children rise again and win back their dignity because of ONE man was really a moving experience. KEEP GOING! A donation towards your work is worth every cent! - Kenneth.

I must take my hat off for you. What you have achieved is truly wonderful and I admire you a great deal. I would love to follow in your footsteps and do something similar because you are an inspiration for our youth. - Lea.

Just wanted to say that I think what you have accomplished in Brazil deserves the peace prize. Really fantastic what you have done!!.. - Sammy

You really are doing a wonderful job. Even if we can't all do the same thing as you did, the least we can do is support your actions! - Sigrid

I just wanted to say that it was fantastic to see the work you are doing for kids in Brazil! It's really good to know that someone dares to take on such an enterprise as you have done - and that it's all worth the effort. Both me and my family were deeply moved by what we saw on TV yesterday. - Tove.

I myself work as a team leader in a child welfare institution - but the work you are doing is so very far from whatever I will ever be able to accomplish. I bow down in the dust and wish you every good wish and fortune in your life. The world's children need people like yourself. - Trond

The documentary can be viewed online at the NRK web site (in Norwegian).The programme series is called FAKTOR and the programme date 10.01.05 titled "Kolibrimannen".

Enjoy the film!

To read about the background and making of this film, please visit an earlier article on this Blog called, “FOLLOW-UP BY NORWEGIAN TV”