Happy Birthday Sandra!

Happy Birthday Sandra!, originally uploaded by carf.

Sandra seemed pretty relaxed during her birthday celebration, here with son Patrick. Little did she know that her greatest present was to be the birth of her second son a few hours later.

A Child is Born...

Sandra was one of the first girls I rescued from the streets in 1993 and has been my foster daughter ever since, along with her sister Eliane and two brothers, Jefferson and Vando.

Sandra seems to enjoy the role of mother, her nineteenth birthday present during the early hours of this morning was the birth of her second son.

Her first born, Patrick, seemed quite happy yesterday about welcoming the latest addition to his family. Luckily his father, Marcio, has a fixed job and can support his growing family.

But now Sandra says, no more!
I hope so too!



Congratulations young lady!
Take care of your sons and give them all the love you yourself yearned for as a child.


Sandra alone on the streets in the city center. Nobody could care for her future in 1993, until CARF came along and rescued her. Two years of street work was involved before she actually managed to stay off the streets for good.

You know the suffering,
I know the suffering,
we all know the suffering...,
...of a child abandoned to the streets

See more photos of Sandra and her new baby in this Album

HUMMINGBIRD ROCKS THE STRUCTURES OF MASP

Grupo Cultural Beija-Flor in the theatre of the MASP (Art Museum of São Paulo), during the realization of the 10th. Prize-giving ceremony of the Real University Solidarity Programme (UNISOL)

Hummingbird delivers their special combination of joy and social criticism to an outstanding event.

Monday, 29th September, in the theatre of the MASP (Art Museum of São Paulo), was the realization of the 10th. Prize-giving ceremony for the ten selected projects of the 132 inscribed by Universities from all over Brazil, participating in the Real University Solidarity Programme (UNISOL).

The ceremony was honoured with the presence of Dra. Ruth Cardoso, wife of Brazil’s former President and Founder of the Programme UNISOL and President of COMUNITAS. Also present were Maria Luiz Pinto, Executive Director of Education and Development for the BANCO REAL and Elisabeth Vargas, Executive Superintendent of the UNISOL Programme, along with representatives of the different Universities, Students and Communities involved.

The ceremony also marked the 10 years of partnership between UNISOL and the BANCO REAL.

UNISOL is internationally renowned by UNESCO through their Comenius Award – a distinction granted by the Czechoslovakian Government for programmes and personalities who develop innovative solutions in the area of education. – The Civil Society Association University Solidarity – UNISOL, was created in 1955 by the Advice Councel of the COMMUNITY SOLIDARITY (also created by Ruth Cardoso), and has since mobilized Universities together with the different sectors of civil society and the State, for community participation in the entire country.

During the event the importance of youth participation was emphasized, also after the realization of such projects, which often resulted in the establishment of long-term relationships with the communities involved. “Not one single student will ever be the same person after having participated in a project for social development.”

Mentioned as good examples of the results obtained by the winning projects for 2004, were the hand-crafted sweets produced by the Comunidade de Cabo de Santo Agostinho, in Pernambuco, in partnership with the Federal University of Pernambuco, which could even be tasted during the cocktail after the prize-giving ceremony. Also the trophies made from Bamboo by the team of Cefet Paraná, in partnership with the Comunidade de Fazenda Grande. Both projects have helped to change the perspectives of these communities, bettering the quality and standard of life for their inhabitants.


A marvellous show, the happy result of a lot of dedication.

Then of course there was Hummingbird, making their noise and shaking the audience...

During a cultural presentation lasting approx. 20 minutes, the Grupo Cultural Beija-Flor delivered their special combination of joy and social criticism to the event; with the frenetic dance of AfroBreak and the Capoeira of the slaves from past and present, the melodious sound of our Experimental Band with the vibrations of the Banda Beija-Flor, the MASP was turned into a cooking pot of willpower and talent by the children and youth of the Hummingbird Cultural Activity Centre.


The ceremony was honoured with the presence of Dra. Ruth Cardoso, wife of Brazil’s former President and Founder of the Programme UNISOL.

A marvellous show, the happy result of a lot of dedication, which lifted the public from their seats and closed the ceremonial event with a Key of Gold.

Without doubt, joy was the dominating tone of this festive celebration.

Special thanks to our volunteers on Flickr:

  Subhasish Karmaker, for his wonderful
  photo collage made especially for our
  Urban Outcries Programme


and to...

  Luca Prasso, who supports the work of
  CARUTAPERA, for letting our organization make
  use of his wonderful B&W Slide Show.



NB! Carutapera is a town in the North East Brazil, in the State of Maranhao. Over 20.000 people live there. About 95% of them are very poor.

Padre Mario is a Missionary Father that has been helping them for the last 36 years. Sadly we just heard that he was attacked and severely injured on August 29th. during a robbery by someone who tried to steal their funds. Padre Mario is now in hospital in Sao Luis in grave conditions. Please visit their website and offer your support to Padre Mario.