a nun stands in front of a group of children sitting on the floor of an open building in Brazil

Visiting Northern Brazil

“My name is Sr. Fernanda. I had the experience of being able to go out in the state of Maranhão so that new girls could come, have new opportunities for a better future, the reality of each of these girls in which I had the opportunity to interview are several ways and often also some situations that are sad, because not all have the opportunity to have good studies and in an adequate level to really achieve their dreams.

So, I had some experiences that I will be sharing through this simple account.

One of the first experiences I had when doing community visits was to know that in a city of Maranhão (Marajá de Sena) only has class 6 months in the year in what should be the whole year so the girls of this city have their studies very impaired because they cannot develop their learning to be able to accompany the students and the reason for these 6 months is precisely because of heavy rains in this city that causes flooding that washes everything.”

A nun and three women stand in front of a basic shack
Alice, second from the right, stands in front of her house with her family and Sister Fernanda

Meeting Alice

“So, all the schools are closed because they are flooded and consequently the children cannot study, not only the schools that are flooded with the lost subjects but also their homes in which families need to leave everything to shelter in a safe place.

Another story that was made known to me was precisely that of a girl in which her father was illiterate. Works in the garden with calloused hands, going through financial difficulties to be able to support the family and who could not afford to give a better study, a better education for his daughter. The situation of the house was very precarious, the house was still wooden and was falling apart,  but it can be observed that the girl really had the will to be able to really study, to be able to fulfil her dreams, which was to help her father.

Although she encountered so many difficulties, even on the day I went to visit the house, the father was working and at home was Alice along with the brothers and stepmother who has a disability in the foot, making it difficult for her to move easily to perform some service; to help with household expenses.”

Run down wooden houses in an overgrown rural part of Brazil

Meeting Victoria

“Another episode was of a girl who is called Victoria that she needed to leave her house that is located in the countryside being well away from the school, she along with her brothers needs to wake up 4 o’clock in the morning to travel a long distance to be able to get to school, passing through a deserted and often even dangerous road, that’s why the father gave his son a machete as protection.

As transport they used old horse that after a few kilometres stops and did not want to walk anymore so they need to leave the animal there and follow the rest of the way on foot until they get to school for classes and in the rainy season there is no way to go to school thus presenting many difficulties in studies has a willpower to study and be able to change their reality and their family.”

two run down wooden houses in the middle of green grass in Brazil

The importance of our support

“Thus, I see how many families need help. And how many families are in many difficulties of life.

Due to poverty, many youths cannot reach their goals because of lack of good education. Here in Brazil, many public schools didn’t do their function due to lack of good and qualified professionals, schools don’t have good structure and I can say that even government itself don’t give value on best education.

Our work as a school that offers education in quality which will be useful for all the youths who studies with us for their future and for them reach better life; has a great importance in the current society.” – Sister Fernanda

“Our work as a school that offers education in quality which will be useful for all the youths who studies with us for their future and for them reach better life; has a great importance in the current society.”

Sister FernandaBrazil