José Maria Viana Guedes, a regional police officer from Ponta Porã, originally founded the Association Camará Capoeira. Since, his mission is to offer perspective to children and adolescents, to educate them preparing integration in the labour market and to keep them from the streets and the vicious circle of drugs and violence. For this classes in various fields like culture, IT and technical skills are being conducted for about 30 to 40 students currently.
We are eight graduate students from the University of St.Gallen in Switzerland. As a part of our obligatory course "SIMagination Challenge" we are autonomously creating a social project targeting Paraguayan and Brazilian youth in Pedro Juan Caballero and Ponto Porã. To be able to start a long-term sustainable project, we are partnering up with regional personalities and chose the José as main partner. He is incredibly engaged and puts all his effort improving the lives of the children. Especially convincing is what he already achieved and the level at which he is fostering change already today.
Our mission is to provide young Brazilians and Paraguayans with important skills and tools to improve their living conditions and to create perspective. For this, we partner up with regional individuals and institutions to ensure a sustainable scope for the project.
Creating the future together
The association successfully increased the awareness for its activities in the regional political and social sphere. Supported by volunteers and private donors, José managed to build a safe retreat for over 30 children and teens who have the great opportunity to improve their education and gather new hope. Given his outstanding engagement and prior success, the time has now come to scale the current project. In order to be able to offer day-long schooling and balanced nutrition we are planning on building a canteen for the centre. For a first crucial phase of construction we are collecting funds covering the building’s skeleton and roof. Additional funds will be used for improvements of the school’s facilities.
In February we will go to Ponta Porã personally in order to help advance the construction, conduct interactive classes for the students and spend time with them, offering insights and perspective for a brighter future. (On a side note we want to assure you, that collected donations will not be used to cover for our travel expenses.)
Besides our focus project, we want to carry on the tradition from prior Planting the Future teams and visit a foster home in Pedro Juan Caballero. We will not only do an excursion with the children living there but bring essential material and supplies to easen the every-day challenges on site.
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