Fundação Pavel : Annual report 2009

Dear friends!

Our heartfelt thanks to all, who once again in this year, gave us support and financial help, the financial crisis and regression notwithstanding.

Right at the beginning of the year our entire electrical system was destroyed by heavy rainstorms. Thanks to a plea for donations in a German newspaper and many “SOS” mails to our friends, we were able to repair the damage to a large degree. Fortunately, we have also managed to keep all our institutions running, despite the worldwide regression.

For the future we hope that, with the help of many other people, we will be able to make it possible for the poorest of the poor in Brazil to live a life in dignity.

Children and culture

Creche “Curumim” (Indian for” the child”)
Our littlest ones finally have a shaded playground. This is very important as it sometimes reaches 50°!!!

Kindergarten “Girassol” (the sunflower)
Here too a playground is being built - at last! Toys for both institutions are still lacking. Since the official opening, 110 children are very well looked after, whether in the crèche, Kindergarten or through extra lessons. In this way we have created the possibility for the poorest families to have their children cared for and to work.

Extra lessons and courses in literacy
Daily lessons for about 30 class ones. In addition to the lessons, the health of the children is also cared for. They receive, among other things, therapy in the form of art and flute lessons and a warm meal every day.

Soccer: 2008 - search for a sponsor, 2009 – sponsor found!
Thank you so much, dear Michael from Munich. You have made 2 of our 4 soccer teams very happy by dressing them from top to bottom. In this way you are helping us to prevent children from landing on the streets.

Centro Social &Cultural

This year we, once again, produced an intensive cultural programme: Two plays, music lessons (guitar, recorder) and performances, as well as folk dancing at the various festivals. Our biggest thanks goes to the foundation Pro Pauperibus, who financed this valuable and helpful work for the third year in a row.
Regular lectures and gatherings for the people of the area take place in our 360m² great hall. There we also celebrate the yearly festivals, Mothers’ Day, Children’s Day and other special days, such as Indio Day, Tree Day, Water Day and so forth (environmental education is very important to us).
We are brought much joy by our “successful” children’s choir. Now our singers even go “on tour” and receive money. In this way the choir work also contributes towards solving the street children problem.

Living and surviving

Emergency funds
We still need donations for our emergency aid. We help people in acute need on a regular basis. In the case of life-threatening health problems which require immediate treatment, for instance, or when it is a question of survival.

Goat project
By donating for a family of goats you can make it possible for the poorest of the poor to make a living. These people live in the interior about 50 km away from the city. A family of five goats cost 200 € and a further 20 € is needed to build them a shelter. Single donations are also very welcome. One goat costs 40 €.

Ambulance
The Brazilian ministry for health chose the Fundação to be part of their support programme. We received an ambulance in December last year. It has already served us well and helped to save many lives. This donation was a real blessing, for which we are very grateful!

Dental care
Three times a week children and adults are treated for free in our dental practice.

Lavandaria (a place to wash) and tap system for potable water
80 families use our lavandaria and tap system on a daily basis. In times of need we even supply the whole town with our fresh water.

Training

Sewing courses
A way for former pupils to earn a living and a new project: a sewing machine for home use.
14 Sewing machines were donated for the project. Our hearty thanks to all donors! Every day in the sewing room, 27 girls and women come together to learn sewing, embroidery and other hand work. They also receive certificates when they have completed the course.

Electrician training
Once again in this year, 20 young men and women successfully completed the 6 month long electrician course. With the basic knowledge that they have attained, most of them are able to find a job right away!

Computer course
Thanks to the spontaneous donations after the heavy storms at the beginning of the year, we were able to install a new computer system – to the great satisfaction of the pupils and co-workers. Through the computer courses we help many young people to find a job more easily. The building and the valuable computers are protected by the newly installed 10 metre high lightening antennae, which was also donated.

Home for mothers and hostel for teenagers with a communal kitchen
This is a place for mothers to go just before the birth and where they can come to recover afterwards. In the neighbouring house there are four rooms, where teenagers from the interior can live. These young people work during the day and then attend their evening classes. It is lovely to see how they become part of the community and also take part in the cultural projects, e.g. theatre and music.

Plans for the future...there’s no end to our dreams!

A co-op for sewn articles and other hand work
This would be a very good idea for the many women, young and old, who have successfully completed our sewing courses. They could make a living independently through their own work. The Fundação would found and monitor the project, be responsible for finding work and organizing a network of buyers. Starting costs and materials: 5000 €.

Bore holes
Bore holes and wells are urgently needed, to prevent people from fleeing the rural areas due to a lack of water. We have a list of 20 families with a total of 87 members that we could immediately help with this project. Cost: 20 000 €.

Truck repair
Since there is no truck work shop in Barao de Grajau, we would like to open one. We would like to train young people and generate financial support for the Fundação at the same time. However, there is no suitable property in the area, which we could rent and so we would have to buy a property and build a simple hall. Two master mechanics from Aachen would be prepared to build up the project on a voluntary basis and also to continue to advise us after that. The support and training of young people by teaching them a trade is very important to us. Total costs: 31 000 €.

Communal vegetable garden
On our grounds next to the crèche there is still room for a vegetable garden that could be cultivated by several families. Cost: 1.500 €.

Patrons
Our heartfelt thanks to all our patrons or “godparents”, who have supported our children for many years now. For the coming year we need more godparents for our children. 30 – 50 € are necessary in order to pay for food, clothing, education and medical care for one child.

We would like to thank the “Friends of Waldorf Education” most warmly! They receive donations from Europe on our part and send them on to us free of charge. For the future we hope that, with the help of many other people, we will be able to continue to make it possible for the poorest of the poor in Brazil to live a life in dignity.

May the coming year bring us all health, peace and strength.

Many greetings from

Gudrun and Klaus, Andreas, Christopher & Benjamin Pavel

More information

• Back to the main page