Projeto Salva Dor, an oasis in the slums
Brazil: Salvador is one of the poorest cities in Brazil. 80% of the total population in Salvador lives under terrible conditions in unimaginably narrow slums. Amidst this poverty the “Projeto Salva Dor” cares for about 50 children aged 2 to 14 years with a Waldorf educational supplement program, for some children during the whole day, for some children only after school. Not only the social worker’s salary but also each sheet of paper, every pen, every cup, every meal is funded entirely by donations. The teacher's salary is about € 250, which is below the official Brazilian minimum subsistence level.
Thainá, the girl with the gentle smile tinged with sadness, has just celebrated her third birthday. She lives with her parents and three of her six siblings in a small house, or rather, in a room with a sheet of plastic for a roof. The mother had to start working again six weeks after her youngest child was born in order to earn money for the family. Thainá’s uncle, who shot someone during the carnival, is being sought after by the police.
Despite these difficult circumstances, which do weigh on her, Thainá is well developed, although very sensitive. She cries easily and gives in if there is any sign of conflict. For her and her parents it is very important that she can go to Salva Dor during the day, because there she receives attention and has a place to play, learn, eat and be a child.
In keeping with words, “I cannot expect to see fundamental changes out there in society, if I am not willing to put myself in to motion (Rudolf Steiner), Lais Naka, who later founded Salva Dor, joined her daughter who had been looking after a small group of children in her apartment in Bahia since 1997. With Lais help, the Associação Educacional Salva Dor came into being.
When Lais Naka withdrew from the project in 2008, it already had 12 co-workers. Unfortunately they don’t receive even a minimum wage. That is one reason why it is so fortunate that five of them are able to attend the Waldorf teacher training. After all, the content of Waldorf Education has been the goal of their daily work for a long time.
To this day Salva Dor is run mainly on donations, as the parents are unable to provide any financial support. The co-workers make dolls and other craftwork that are sold at Waldorf school bazaars in Germany through cooperation with German Waldorf schools.
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03/2010 - Thanks after WOW-Day
12/2009 - Report of the year 2009
09/2008 - Report
03/2007 - Report
Internet information
Contact
Associação Educacional Salva Dor
R. Alto de São Lázaro N 69-E
Cep. 40210-715 Federação
Salvador – Bahia
Brazil
Tel.: +55 71 3245 5009
projetosalvador@ig.com.br