About
two years ago, a small group of the Reconciliação, consisting out of
employees and the theatergroup “Arte Manha”, visited several cities in
Germany. One of those cities was Bad Harzburg. In return the residential
school of the city just sent a german group to Brazil. This group
consisted out of seven pupils, between 16 and 18 years, two teachers and a
former volunteer who spent several month working in the Reconciliação. All in one they were in
São Paulo for ten days, before they moved on further into the north of
Brazil. For one week they had the opportunity to see what is going on in
the Kindergarten and the project. They spent some time with the kids and
teenagers and attented several groups. Besids small presents like
teethbrushes, they brought one huge present from Germany to Vila São José–
a check over 4500 Euros.Their time in São
Paulo was not limited on only staying in the project. They had the
opportunity to visit an Indian reservation and to go Downtown with “Arte
Manha” to see the giantic skyscrapers of São Paulo, which are just
overwhelming for foreigners. Some of the germans even participated a trip
through the poor areas of Vila São José, where they got to see a
different way of life from another point of view. At the end of the week,
the Reconciliação had a big party for them. Besids barbecue, music and
dancing, the theatergroup had prepared a small show for them. At the end
of the night, all got together in a small circle and the group from
Germany thanked for the good time they had and especially for the
hospitility of all the brasilians they met. At the following Monday
morning, there was a huge goodbye with many tears and many sad faces.
All
in one it was a great trip, which was amazing for our german friends, but
also for the Reconciliação. The german group had the opportunity to get
to know a different culture and collected many new impressions.
We
hope, that this friendship will last for a long time and leads many
brasilians to Germany and also many germans to Brazil in the future.