Alquimia - Invitation by Grupo Lapidario

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The Grupo Lapidário:
We are being invited to participate in this work camp by an existing support group, the Grupo Lapidário, consisting of young people from the area around the project. The photographs show members of the group meeting with our representative, Ellie Henn, who visited the site with them. She is the one who is not looking at the camera, but beams across at her new friends with a sparkle in her eye.

The following text is their invitation to us to participate in their work, as edited by me (E.H. - webmaster):

What is the Project?
Since the 1950’s, Favelas (slums) have burgeoned in the State of Sao Paulo, because of the massive migration from the countryside into the cities. In this agglomeration of settlements, the space for each person is terribly restricted, leading to appalling living conditions. Especially children are affected by this kind of environment.
NGO Alquimia was founded in 2002 with a few kids by Roseli, a woman from one of the Favelas, as she could not bear to see so many children living under these conditions. In 2004 a group of students, wanting to become active in the world, started to go there to help out once a week. This group began to grow and was named Grupo Lapidario.
Nowadays it consists of 32 students that go there every week and take care of the kids.
This year, we intended to first build a playground. This is so that the children of the Favela have a secure place to play and develop the physical abilities and motor coordination essential for their healthy development.

What is our task?
We want to start off with building the wooden structures that make up the playground, which will require the help of all the participants! As well as construction of the playground equipment, there is a lot of other work to do for the NGO Alquimia. We will split into groups and do what is necessary, such as building a fence and preparing the soil for a vegetable garden...

What to Expect?
After taking a brief rest from Connectivity, we will start the work. The conditions in this Favela culture are quite different to what most participants will have experienced. We invite you to live with us in our families, so that we can become friends and really get to know each other.
We will be able to contribute something to improving the living conditions of a favela community and bring to fruition a support project started by us 2 years ago, and making a significant difference.

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First pictures!

The playground is ready. First pictures from Alquimia Workcamp online!

2 weeks after Connectivity - 22 July - 5 August (Full)

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