tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-60607242011-07-08T10:00:50.183Zwe build homes for street children, and operate educational programmes for favela kids in brazil. quick hit teams go to brazil periodically to do anything that is need at the time such as building a playground, renovating homes, purchasing property. you can follow the progress of each trip here......so if you want to go contact us now or to receive more updates log on here for up to date news.voice for changenoreply@blogger.comBlogger3451100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-20022802701373677932009-11-25T20:51:00.003Z2009-11-26T00:05:29.703Z

This is our last blog for this trip. Sorry it has been a bit short and sweet! Tomorrow we are off to Foz do Iguaçu, on the borders of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay, for a couple of days holiday before we fly home at the weekend.Today we have been to the Municipal Fruit and Veg market - so different to back home, with sacks of nuts, spices and fruit of all kinds. We saw 6 different types of

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-35637636624221665272009-11-24T22:17:00.002Z2009-11-24T23:16:05.655Z

Thought we ought to send you a few photos, now that all of our electronic bits and pieces are working again.We've had a lovely time in the Vila Centre today.Amanda insisted that Kate sat next to her, while they waited for their meal to be served! The children played a game which was a bit like musical chairs. Each child had a number, and their were two teams, with chairs set out opposite one

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-44003329649788167562009-11-22T20:32:00.004Z2009-11-22T21:23:23.791Z

We have had awful problems with the internet connection, off completely all of Saturday, and only just restored now (6,45pm) on Sunday. It makes us realise how dependant we have become on all the information available to us on-line. So pictures above, of Juliana, Thais and Jhonathon were taken on Thursday, but this is the first chance we have had to send them..However, we have been busy in

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-54751465413135794352009-11-20T21:49:00.002Z2009-11-20T22:04:02.848Z

Friday Evening 20.11.09Sorry it has taken a while to do this first blog. We had trouble with the internet connection.We had an excellent journey here. The temperature has been very high - about 35 degrees until this afternoon. Now it is about 22 degrees and very pleasant.On thursday we spent the morning with Val, catching up to date with the news here and discussing jobs that will need to be

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-83539925157523455742009-06-11T12:13:00.002Z2009-06-11T12:26:09.676Z

on wednesday afternoon we went to another favela, where we provide football training for about 30 boys on wednesday afternoons and saturday mornings, around 3 hours each time. the coach, luis-claudio, and his assistant paulo were ´over the moon´ to be given the kit which we brought with us to give them, and they quickly prepared for a six-a-side game, which turned into 9-a-side as more boys

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-23430391041237416682009-06-11T12:10:00.001Z2009-06-11T12:13:45.577Z

no trip to curitiba is complete without a visit to waldo´s burger bar, it´s the best!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-39551990143346187932009-06-11T12:02:00.003Z2009-06-11T12:09:50.732Z

margaret holds court at the vila centre on wednesday morning, before tucking into a burger at waldo´s burger bar!!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-85850162582515581562009-06-11T11:58:00.001Z2009-06-11T12:02:52.151Z

here is the promised picture of the new hairstyle, with the ´cabeleireiras´ !

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-47036359639844036042009-06-10T16:26:00.002Z2009-06-10T16:32:18.219Z

We paid a quick visit to the fruit and veg market for a drink and some provisions, and later went off to eat at the ´Divino Mestre`charruscaria, where we managed a very pleasant meal! Then we came back to Casa Branca to sample ´pinhao´which had been cooked for us (they are a bit like chestnuts) - and Tais and Gaby turned the sitting room into a hair salon for re-arranging Margaret´s hairstyle!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-61200756106665845592009-06-10T16:14:00.003Z2009-06-10T16:25:28.013Z

Becky and Margaret spent Tuesday at the Vila Centre, working with Priscila, Karem, Dani and Rudy.After the morning session, they enjoyed lunch of spaghetti bolognese cooked by Karem, before repeating it all again for the children who come in the afternoon. Up to 100 children come in every day, normally more make it in the afternoon - when they get up/remember to come/have something to wear.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-39636462102046169202009-06-10T16:05:00.002Z2009-06-10T16:14:46.682Z

A long and exciting game of Uno was held, while the children loved getting hold of Becký´s camera and taking pictures of themselves with her!Then it was down to the hard work of making decorations for the ´festa juninho´party next week

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-61769647560554529022009-06-10T16:00:00.002Z2009-06-10T16:05:03.431Z

This family attends the Vila centre every afternoon - except the little boy on the left, who is still too young to come. Mother and Granny sort rubbish in their garden all day long, after Dad has brought it back from the city centre. They stand in front of their house. There are six children in this family.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-27531256613124023392009-06-09T03:40:00.002Z2009-06-10T16:25:57.670Z

On Monday Becky, Bruna and Lucas cleaned and re-built the ´casinha´ - the little house - in which bruna just loves to play all kinds of imaginitive games ...

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-35460695990391985522009-06-09T03:38:00.001Z2009-06-09T03:40:41.639Z

and completed it very quickly ...

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-17065165411890399612009-06-09T03:36:00.000Z2009-06-09T03:38:35.991Z

most of the other children went to CAPSI, while tais did her homework at the table .....

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-47106610847124938182009-06-09T03:35:00.000Z2009-06-09T03:36:31.642Z

darci cooked lunch of chicken, beans and rice ....

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-89770519879840179742009-06-09T03:32:00.000Z2009-06-09T03:35:08.741Z

while our other team member washed, scrubbed and cleaned furniture for putting into casa branca.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-90150898800670719052009-06-08T11:40:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:47:53.613Z

After 4 days of sunny but very cold weather (especially at night) we have had a couple of days which have been quite pleasant, so visiting the ´feria hipie´on sunday to buy things for the cafe and shop which is run in the UK to help raise money for VfC (www.theparkonline.org) was avery pleasant and enjoyable four hours yesterday, and we got some very nice things to sell from the local artists and

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-22903246852914226612009-06-08T11:36:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:40:51.272Z

One of the boys proudly shows off his new football kit, which has been kindly donated by Drayton Youth FC - all your kit has gone, or will go, to children and teams in favelas where it will be so much appreciated. Thank you Drayton Youth!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-91668956404577899722009-06-08T11:27:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:36:01.922Z

Here is Mrs Green from England ´discussing´ Pinhao (the pine nut which is native to Parana and a local speciality) with the non-plussed stallholder at the fruit and veg market. The conversation ends with neither party being much the wiser!! Behind her are at least seven types of banana - did you know that there are seven types of banana? - including the tiny miniature bananas which have a golden

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-74597897627005910592009-06-08T11:19:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:27:56.334Z

Most mornings are spent doing the homework which has been set by the school, and then playing. Here are Bruna and Gabi trying to get their work done so they can have an English ´lesson´with Margaret!! The lego kits and pieces which we brought out with us have proved to be a very popular, and spare moments are spent building and playing creative games with lego. The card game ´Uno´is also very

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-85505473004250639982009-06-08T11:13:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:19:43.101Z

Becky helps herself to lunch -meat, rice, salad, potatoes, beans. We eat lunch with the children most days, at 12.30, before they all go off to their various schools. Some children go at 7.30 in the morning and are away all day, on some weekdays. They are getting special help at CAPSI, a school which specialises in assisting emotionally and pschologocally challenged children. We are this school´s

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-45467644369296845112009-06-08T11:04:00.002Z2009-06-08T11:13:07.153Z

The directors of Dreamland (www.lojadreamland.com.br) have told us that they will donate clothes for children to Voice for Change (www.vfcbrasil.com) in future, when they re-stock at the end of the seasons, etc - and this will be so good, because it allows the children to feel so ´cool´- in brasilian ´legal´ - when they can wear the kind of clothes which others are wearing in school etc .. This

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-68666390818220371152009-06-06T22:12:00.002Z2009-06-06T22:17:57.671Z

The girls enjoyed a vast selection of tennis shoes at Dreamland - it was so hard to decide what they wanted, but they got there in the end!! We had fantastic service from Dreamland again.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-16982071825376720932009-06-06T22:08:00.002Z2009-06-06T22:12:51.983Z

The first children to come to VfC 8 years ago (Jhonathan, Jhuliana and Carolinha) stand together in their new winter coats this morning.My, how they have grown!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-33293600885841211852009-06-06T22:01:00.002Z2009-06-06T22:07:58.201Z

The VfC Brasil team pose for the camera following this afternoon´s meeting. The trustees and ´staff´all came together today for an envisioning time, which was very successful.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-56355451221798991292009-06-06T03:26:00.003Z2009-06-06T12:19:54.434Z

Tais and Gabriela. We are taking them shopping to buy them the same as the others - trainers, jeans and a winter coat, as they are a little older and they like their fashion and trying on their clothes at home. Tais told us she has never been shopping in her life before so you can image how excited these girls are. They have never chosen their own clothes before. These children have very little.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-39762385143298496422009-06-06T03:20:00.003Z2009-06-06T22:18:47.516Z

This is Juliana, Jonny, Bruna and Lucas with their new clothes on. Each child got excited and really liked what we brought for them. Carolina and Jhonathan were already in bed, so still more excitement and trying on comes tomorrow .

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-79167703986744115042009-06-06T03:14:00.003Z2009-06-06T22:19:35.659Z

These ladies work at Dreamland, a clothing store, where we went to get six pairs of trainers, jeans and coats for each child. Hang on - we have eight children to kit out, but only six lots came back. We haven´t forgotten Tais and Gabriela! We are taking them shopping.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-43193276231453455492009-06-06T03:06:00.003Z2009-06-06T22:20:17.219Z

This is Jhonatan (Jonny) and Tais at school -they go to the school at the bottom of the road where they live. It takes two minutes to walk to school and they go every afternoon between 1.30 and 6.00pm.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-87596518451492681072009-06-06T02:59:00.003Z2009-06-06T22:20:55.269Z

The washing up in the kitchen, this happens after most meals as you can imagine washing up for 4 people is enough, but this household has to wash up for 10 people every meal time. Sometimes they will even have guest to lunch. So you can imagine what a lot of work goes on looking after 8 children 24 hours a day 7 days a week!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-43640507612713921812009-06-06T02:56:00.002Z2009-06-06T22:21:11.706Z

Keith, Bruna and Gabriela playing with the lego outside.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-42002064195937371172009-06-06T02:10:00.008Z2009-06-06T22:21:25.171Z

This is Carolina playing outside before Lunch.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-31592408784584581582009-06-05T01:25:00.003Z2009-06-06T22:21:41.491Z

here are luiz-claudio and darci, with some of their ´family´- lucas, jhuliana, tais, jonni, gabi and bruna ...until today we have known nothing about bruna, who has been with us for 9 months after being picked up in the middle reservation of a motorway, she was thrown out of a car and abandoned. she only knew her name, and nothing else. nobody has been able to identify her.we thought that she was

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-41055966535082655502009-06-05T01:20:00.002Z2009-06-05T01:25:52.764Z

this is Tais, looking so different from when she first came to casa branca, after nursing her mother and looking after her brother. at 11 years old, Tais has had little in the way of a normal childhood, but has great potential for the future, and is really wanting to study and learn as much as she can now. her mother died last year, and she has no other living relatives, except one who has said

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-38239265198522374412009-06-05T01:15:00.001Z2009-06-05T01:20:16.964Z

children in our centre often have to take responsibility for their younger brothers and sisters - here is a family group preparing to go home

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-71621474122731997142009-06-05T01:04:00.002Z2009-06-05T01:14:40.810Z

vila children enjoy a short break from their lessons, before being given their ´tea´and going home. constructive play like this helps them socialise and hone their motor skills. life is hard for the children who come to our vila centre, as this little one contemplates .. who knows what? ... before she goes home.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-75631591490995034382009-06-05T00:53:00.003Z2009-06-05T01:04:09.421Z

The surprise birthday party for Margaret caused much excitement especially when she tried to blow out two sparklers helped, of course, by many willing "Puffers".

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-87102572016171764412009-06-05T00:45:00.002Z2009-06-05T00:53:32.131Z

here´s keith with lucas, tais, jhonathan (jonni), gabrielle(gabi) and bruna, ready for going off to school on tuesday lunchtime .. these children go to school from 1 to 6 pm each day, to 3 different schools. lucas is holding the latest addition to the family, a kitten named ´mee´!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-43984976839035939122008-12-22T20:12:00.002Z2008-12-22T20:13:22.899Z

You can check out Neil's reflections on his trip to Brazil and 10k run on his company's website athttp://www.westhilldirect.com/news_item.php?wnID=1172&PHPSESSID=43b6db6e9d510cc06c44ccf6fd5c9e7fHappy Christmas everyone!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-83803346640423190402008-11-30T09:33:00.002Z2008-11-30T09:39:36.590Z

The flight from Sao Paulo to Amsterdam left on time and is expected in at 11.10 this morning - then there will be the wait at Schipol for the connecting flights to the UK .. it is hot in Curitiba this morning, and the contrast in the weather conditions is a major factor as you step off the plane coming home!!Keith, Denise, Hannah, Kate, Carl and Paz are all successfully booked in for their 24

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-14993841425044092942008-11-30T00:48:00.002Z2008-11-30T00:58:34.827Z

After a farewell session with both casa Branca and the children at casa Dourada, the team packed up and prepared to leave today.Claire, Richard, Jeff, Mark and Jamie are now winging their way back to Norwich, Glasgow and Bristol, with a job well done behind them, and many hours of relection and stories for their family and friends when they reach the Uk again .. our massive thanks go to all of

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-58998772864978137012008-11-29T01:57:00.002Z2008-11-29T02:05:27.246Z

The day started fairly early with the whole team off to the Vila Centre. We split into two groups with the boys getting stuck into the redecoration of the outside of the Centre, and the girls inside with the children, our last chance to enjoy their company.The girls later went over to Casa Dourada to spend some time with the Family. Darcy and Luis Claudio made us very welcome and cooked a lovely

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-8081843775826347012008-11-29T01:47:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:55:54.443Z

Carolina was amazingly patient while she had her face painted and enjoyed every minute of it.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-8818189650322423882008-11-29T01:42:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:47:54.381Z

Johnathan decided he wanted to be painted as 'Avatar' his favorite super hero and thrilled with the outcome.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-48187547443461908892008-11-29T01:30:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:42:11.945Z

While Jamie, Mark, Carl, Jeff and Richard were painting at the Vila, Denise, Kate, Ellie, Hannah and Claire zipped between the children of the Vila and Casa Dourada. Hannah brought her face paints for the children and with Ellie's help did a fabulous job. As you can see they really loved it. Gabi and Bruna show off their Butterfly faces and their new Teddy Bears and are proud as punch!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-37462120948802529182008-11-29T01:25:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:30:44.113Z

The Centre looks fantastic with its new coat of paint and really stands out, the Boys did us proud!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-20965468911380348512008-11-29T01:14:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:25:04.631Z

The Boys made an excellent job of repainting the entire Vila Centre. Their hard work and determination paid off as they were able to rub down and repaint not only the walls but the doors and windows. Well done boys! Richard revels in their achievement.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-9914436090939703062008-11-29T01:02:00.000Z2008-11-29T01:09:49.363Z

On a trip to the City Gallery the Team were overcome with artistic flair!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-66389739577552843612008-11-29T01:00:00.001Z2008-11-29T01:01:53.174Z

We had a delicious meal at Divino Mestre restaurant to round off the trip, and now are going to bed!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-70117307835854917942008-11-28T01:48:00.002Z2008-11-28T02:06:28.747Z

The team is all safely back in casa Branca, having enjoyed a short break in the state of Sao Paulo, at the ecological island site of Cananeia, the place where the explorers of the first world discovered Brazil in the 16th century. Many thanks to Marcio and Maria at the pousada (small hotel) ´via Maria´, where we stayed for two nights, and had a great time together.They have been swimming in the

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-72195883042244097682008-11-25T09:43:00.002Z2008-11-25T10:17:41.675Z

Today the team has divided again - the ´boys´are leaving now to go to the favela to clean and paint the front of the centre, which has deteriorated quite a lot in the intense sun and rain of Curitiba´s climate, and they have decided that they can´t leave the city without doing something about it!The children and teachers will really appreciate having a new clean look by the end of the week.The ´

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-75696972456990139052008-11-25T08:27:00.000Z2008-11-25T09:42:26.281Z

Mon 24th Post Race DayDeliberately not too much to do today to allow the runners some recovery time. A nice lie-in today with breakfast at about 9am ( everyone slept well !) folllowed by a marathon debrief meeting to give thought on the event and any suugestions for future marathon teams. A masseuse was booked and spent most of the day at Casa Branca and one by one eased the runners´ aches and

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-29070746429147379852008-11-25T01:44:00.000Z2008-11-25T01:51:04.097Z

This was three of the runners preparing to set off for the start of their events early on Sunday morning - early on Tuesday morning they are setting off again, this time to paint the front of the favela Centre where they have been working all last week. They are in great shape after running, and they want another project!! Claire is suffering with her knee, and Neil´s hamstring has been sore

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-27594254721074207802008-11-25T01:39:00.000Z2008-11-25T01:43:54.294Z

did Batman just wave to me? only two other competitors in the marathon were dressed in costume! Jamie was cheered all the way around the course!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-27941731351592988242008-11-25T01:36:00.000Z2008-11-25T01:39:23.932Z

look who´s running here!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-66486052155084813682008-11-23T20:40:00.000Z2008-11-23T20:52:42.760Z

http://www.curitiba.pr.gov.br/Noticia.aspx?n=14845READ ALL ABOUT IT ON THE CITY´S WEBSITE!!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-61141765978354521702008-11-23T20:28:00.001Z2008-11-23T20:40:49.247Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-28507147406373746282008-11-23T20:12:00.001Z2008-11-23T20:28:05.951Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-90024507519330743482008-11-23T20:03:00.001Z2008-11-23T20:12:33.284Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-56128891443779059232008-11-23T19:56:00.001Z2008-11-23T20:03:36.785Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-75016835047961715862008-11-23T19:46:00.001Z2008-11-23T19:56:46.712Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-65111955252237371102008-11-23T19:37:00.001Z2008-11-23T19:46:34.034Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-87051557485743262392008-11-23T18:58:00.000Z2008-11-23T19:36:28.446Z

Wow, what a fantastic and emotional day! Its been tough this morning, as I found it a hard and demanding course, certainly the hardest I have ever ran. The 3 H´s (Hills, heat and humidity) all came into play today. I expect I have been the only person in Brazil praying for cold and cloudy weather for today, due to the fact that I was running in a costume as the caped crusader! Sadly, as I was

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-6589737880745985212008-11-23T18:48:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:57:55.735Z

I did it!!!!! WAHEY! Despite a cold and a very early start (which isn't really my thing) I really enjoyed the run and did it in a reasonable time - 69.07 mins, which means I beat the boys by a grand 15 seconds! Generally the support is nothing like the London Marathon, but our team were GREAT!!! They made so much noise that I sprinted to the finsh line, speeding past 'proper' runners! What a

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-69274732160099881202008-11-23T18:27:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:48:17.263Z

Ola from Mark. What a great day really good fun! ALL the runners were amazing. Everybody finished depsite the odds:- Hannah full of cold and feeling rotten, Neil with his injured ankle, Jamie in full Batman costume despite the heat, Jeff who hadn't time to train and thought he would struggle afer 15 milles. And Clare wow, such strength and determination.The run itself was good fun, the highlight

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-42026262738738130902008-11-23T18:11:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:27:20.764Z

Jeff felt great at the half marathon stage (good time too). Then good for 5 more miles. About 18 miles, legs tightened everywhere. Then images of the kids in the favila came flooding into my mind - I had to finish and finish I did.10 years ago I vowed that I had run my last ever marathon. But, the opportunity to do something for these kids - makes me think I might start running a few more. So

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-63426828296283163372008-11-23T18:06:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:11:52.974Z

There is an invasion of the course when Claire arrives on the final straight!! She teamed up with a lovely gentleman who went all the way round with her, and had a few adventures on the way ... but then, this is Claire!!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-82921657153387046122008-11-23T18:02:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:06:45.031Z

The children who have waited for her rush to join Claire for the final 100 metres

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-63582890192293397672008-11-23T17:57:00.000Z2008-11-23T18:02:16.973Z

The end of the end of the maratona!!!Claire crosses the line with her new friends. Everyone has done it!!!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-65066909507464773482008-11-23T00:07:00.000Z2008-11-23T00:13:39.888Z

Hi everyone - we are really proud to be running today in the Curitiba marathon and 10k run, to raise money for Voice for Change, to help the children we have met this week.We want to thank you for tremendous support so far, and assure you that we will do our best to finish the course.We are really grateful to you for reading this blog, and we have so many stories to tell you when we get home ...

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-61916385808081781612008-11-22T23:14:00.002Z2008-11-22T23:33:55.602Z

Hello again at the end of Saturday!! We have just returned from watching Coritiba play Santos, which ended 5 - 1 to the home team, and a good time was enjoyed by all. It was especially good having Hannah with us, who only watches football matches with at least six goals in them, so her average was kept up!! Richard was having his photo taken with various supporters of the home team, who play in

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-81769007111410314732008-11-22T08:59:00.002Z2008-11-22T09:36:43.943Z

We are sorry that we haven't been able to give a report on Friday's activities yet, nor show pictures, but we have some technical difficulties with the computer's connections.We had an excellent and emotionally-charged 'last' day at the favela center yesterday, when we reviewed all the work we have been doing all week, danced together, sang together and wrote letters to all the children of

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-60227429033502625062008-11-21T00:27:00.003Z2008-11-21T00:36:02.516Z

As part of the music day we `treated` them to a sample of British culture through the decades. Jeff and Ellie perform their dance routine from the Punk Rock era. The kids love seeing them make a fool of themselves as does the rest of the team.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-76761942077914282532008-11-21T00:21:00.003Z2008-11-21T00:40:53.172Z

Wednesday was music and fashion day. The talented Brazilian kids put us to shame with their awesome dance routines. Their rhythm is amazing !

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-18847754762291401272008-11-21T00:15:00.002Z2008-11-21T00:21:53.153Z

Thursday was sports day at the vila. The kids have a `cracking` time participating in the traditional English egg and spoon race. The fun and enjoyment is seen on their gorgeous smiles.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-91542978296932185742008-11-20T21:20:00.003Z2008-11-21T00:15:06.686Z

After the snack time the children at the vfc centre prepare letters with painted hand prints to reply to letters written by the school children at Mundesley, Norfolk, UK Even Priscila and Karem ( the teachers) have a great time at the vila

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-2042859579315604302008-11-19T09:04:00.001Z2008-11-19T09:10:57.818Z

We shared a lot of information in a short space of time, and here is part of the morning group listening to Jamie´s introduction to the London scene! we gave everybody souvenir pictures to take home, and many children were really chuffed to have these to put on the bare wooden wall of their house.In the background are some of the snowflakes which were made the day before.

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-54002245265114771462008-11-19T09:01:00.000Z2008-11-19T09:04:24.408Z

Emerson ponders how to fit 6 people into a London taxi ..

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-18041742337539276262008-11-19T08:57:00.000Z2008-11-19T09:01:32.907Z

Kate teaching the group to sing London´s Burning ...

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-39838295267488219442008-11-19T08:54:00.000Z2008-11-19T08:57:12.422Z

A section of the Brasilieros choir singing their hearts out!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-25986201565652616022008-11-19T08:47:00.000Z2008-11-19T08:54:16.295Z

Working on the questions in the London quiz requires concentration and attention to detail! Communication between the children, who range in age from 6 to 13, is excellent, and although they have a short concentration span, many can read really well, and can take in the information quickly. However, others struggle to know their colours, and can´t read. It is quite a challenge for the teachers

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-63198023505287557912008-11-19T08:43:00.000Z2008-11-19T08:47:44.161Z

The games outside were popular - an opportunity to release some energy and let off steam ...

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-56535210497552955802008-11-19T08:33:00.001Z2008-11-19T08:42:59.339Z

In a quieter corner Ellie and a small group of children get to play a game of Uno while others are playing outside in the sunshine - yes the clouds are lifting and we are seeing some sun now!The marathon runners don´t want it to get too hot, though, until next week!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-69763335367499392892008-11-19T08:25:00.000Z2008-11-19T08:33:33.975Z

Claire prepares to skip with the 3 girls Carolina, Jhuliana, Bruna) at casa Douradas barbeque evening, with Gabriele and Jhonathan waiting their turn to join in. The food and hospitality was just great!We left at 10 pm to get some sleep!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-79630798359325110582008-11-19T01:10:00.000Z2008-11-19T08:25:19.695Z

Claire loses her head while skipping with Jhuliana at casa Dourada!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-12421370664464856842008-11-19T00:58:00.002Z2008-11-19T01:10:02.127Z

Tuesday was our second day in the favela centre and out theme was London ..... so we have been sharing red London buses, taxis, Tower Bridge, London Eye, Buckingham Palace and the royal family, as well as telephone boxes, beefeaters and a few other things which London is famous for!Jamie was master of ceremonies for the day, and Richard took on the job of his translator for the sessions, and they

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-49055660892585098042008-11-18T09:20:00.002Z2008-11-18T09:26:23.660Z

As soon as you arrive at casa Dourada, the children want to play, and it is an hour of hectic play !! We visited the market, which gave us a good intro to life in brasil, and then did some planning for the week before going off to casa Dourada, then to the CCC and then to the charruscaria for our evening meal .. before dropping into bed . it was long day but a goon start, and team is working

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-74725909215288383962008-11-18T09:15:00.000Z2008-11-18T09:20:09.309Z

Hannah and Ellie met Jhuliana and Bruna at casa Dourada on Sunday afternoon, with the rest of the team, and Richard finally made it from Glasgow after missing his plane on Saturday. He arrived in the ´wee small hours´of Monday morning so is catching up with his lapsed portuguese as quickly as possible!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-63123811983322946712008-11-18T09:02:00.000Z2008-11-18T09:15:47.228Z

On Monday we were up at 6.30 am for preparing breakfast at 7, ready to leave for the favela at 7.45 am to do our first day´s real work .. we are doing a week-long programme of ÚK Culture´and information, which is being enthusiastically received! We had 25 children manage to turn up after the brasilian bank holiday weekend in the morning, and 40 more made it in the afternoon, so we expect numbers

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-76470775584413547642008-11-18T09:00:00.000Z2008-11-18T09:02:45.191Z

Juan was enjoying making his name badge .. remembering 100 new names in one day is too difficult, so the first job was to make the badges!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-43429619691313048732008-11-18T08:55:00.000Z2008-11-18T09:00:02.086Z

Learning about snow (no-one has ever seen it for real) and then ´making´ snowflakes was a very popular activity, and produced some beautiful designs, every one different, of course!The children concentrated hard and worked well together..

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-31684245212436193372008-11-18T08:50:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:55:45.990Z

Richard tries to hear what is being said from the front while under pressure from two children to help them win a prize in the vocabulary game! The children were fascinated by the map of the uk, looking up the places after which their teams are named .. They all joined in all the games very enthusiastically!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-40841887698256850022008-11-18T08:45:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:49:47.802Z

Young people on their way home from school wait on the other side of the track to cross the line, while a very long goods train passes by. There are no barriers, fences or signs here, and after crossing the line here, the river is crossed by a makeshift metre-wide ´bridge´with missing planks and no handrails, which bounces as you walk across Indiana Jones-style!!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-74946937898416719602008-11-18T08:40:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:45:02.838Z

Mark (new brasilian name Marco) and Kate wait for the train to pass so they can cross the line .. everyone uses this point as a crossing from the favela to the school and shops of the next township .. the newly built favela junior school is the red roof in the background .. where armed police guard the children while they go out to play at breaktime!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-54983458221359312782008-11-18T08:36:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:40:48.390Z

Jamie and Denise wait to cross the railway line to go for lunch, with a more developed part of the favela in the background. We didn´t see too much sun on Monday, it was cloudy all day, but the forecast is to get warmer as the week goes on, up to about 27C..

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-87872265442714051312008-11-18T08:28:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:35:40.795Z

We arrived back at casa Branca just before 7 pm where all the family was waiting for us in their party gear, to celebrate the birthday today of Fabio (8) and his brother Jhonathon and sister Kinberley (the twins) who were 5 last Friday. There was a wonderful spread of home made cakes and party treats, and we all sang ´Happy Birthday´in english and portuguese before leaving the children to go up

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-57618893743416671022008-11-18T08:21:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:28:25.784Z

Carl the optician discovers a new trend in designer glasses at the party .. while Jeff can´t bear to look at his new chest hair (actually a scarf, of course!)

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-7352302584822222922008-11-18T08:16:00.000Z2008-11-18T08:21:34.568Z

here are two party animals at the birthday party for fabio and the twins!

voice for changenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6060724.post-26442970455621896292008-11-17T23:48:00.000Z2008-11-18T00:03:15.112Z

voice for changenoreply@blogger.com