Reality of poverty in Brazil hits home!

On Wednesday we went with the Casa Da Crianca team to visit one of the projects that they are supporting .The area that we went to was Lar Esperanca in Muribeca , a poor shanty town on the outskirts of Recife . Just a 30 minute drive from the built up and prosperous area where we're staying on Boa Viagem we experienced how many people in Brazil live. .   The shelter , which is a day care centre  for children is in the middle of Muribeca which is very close to the district dump . Many children spend their time going to the dump searching for food and anything else of use . A local woman , Dona Cristina decided to do something to help improve these children's lives and started to take children into a shelter during the day where they are fed and cared for so that they don't need to go to the dump during the day.

Dona Cristina has dreams of making the shelter a better place , she would love a little garden for the children and an area where they can learn.  Supported by the Casa Da Crianca team this dream is becoming a reality as plans for a new building and garden are well on the way . These are some photos of the shelter and the work in progress.
This creche doesn't have the luxury of of 1 carer to every 3/4 children. There can sometimes be 150 children and only a few people to care for  them , but the children love it there . They have food to eat, they are washed and they are loved which is something that is often missing in their lives .  We met one girl of 7 years old whose parents were both murdered in front of her , she hadn't spoken since it happened until she spent sometime with Dona Cristina  in the shelter but now she's able to communicate again and smile. 

The day that we were there some of the children had not come to the shelter as they had been taken by their mothers to a protest about the violence that's been happening in the town . The children who were there gave us a great welcome . I'm sorry that I'm not able to share the pictures of these children with you but in this instance they need their privacy .  

So how does the work that I'm doing here help this cause?

Our project is to provide a portal for communications , document  creation and sharing , photo uploading  etc.  This new Cloud solution will reduce costs in telephone , petrol , travel time ,administration  photocopying and postal costs . This in turn will mean that the  Casa Da Crianca team have more time to work with new franchises , and meet with those who can help them to continue with their mission so that more projects like the one with Dona Cristina can be completed .

 

Social Life in Brazil- Every picture tells a story

So you've heard about the working life and our need to fit in with the culture , that of course includes the weekend when most people go to the beach . In order to avoid the sharks we went to Porto De Galinha (Chicken Port) about an hour and a half from Recife . We hired a mini bus for the group and booked into a Pousada (small hotel) for one night .
http://www.portodegalinhasturismo.com/

I'll let these pictures tell the story of the weekend ..it was brilliant and I am very red!!
The weekend consisted of beach buggy rides, swimming with angel fish, , finding sea horses ,walking in a crab mangrove , walking on the barrier reefs , drinking Pina Colada fresh from the pineapple , and eating fresh lobster

We're in the Press

 There was an article in the local Pernambuco State paper related to our trip and the project tta I'm working on

http://www.diariodepernambuco.com.br/nota.asp?Materia=20120522115947

Via Google Translate:

Developing skills of business management, by enhancing or creating technological tools such as websites, spreadsheets and other services performed by nonprofit organizations (NGOs), is the intent of the program Corporate Services Corps (CSC) from IBM, which landed with approximately 15 professionals on the last Monday in Recife.

With the project, the company hopes not only to integrate their professional work undertaken by these organizations in Pernambuco, as well as exploring the potential of the state to market of new information technologies, already recognized internationally.

One of the institutions favored by the selection of the U.S. company is the Children's House Project - Pernambuco organization that develops supportive activities focused on the reform of shelters and artistic skills of young people at least 10 years.

According to the managing partner of the NGO - Patricia Chalaca,  the visit will allow an expansion and better management of services provided by the organization as well as having a better control of the activity performed by volunteers as the hospital Unimed Aracaju, which maintains a partnership with the Institute since 2010, for assistance in the health of children and youth in the city. "The four weekss that the three IBM employees here will serve to improve our online service, which now boasts 16 member institutions, in order to clarify the data of social invested in these places," says Patricia.

To Alceli Barroso, the IBM executive of citizenship in Brazil, the project, which has featured the participation of 145 employees aims, and to promote an exchange of expertise between the professional manufacturer of computer peripherals international and local organizations, the promotion of culture solidarity and development of the entrepreneurial potential of these institutions. "Since 1999, we developed this project, and has given enough results with regard to optimizing the services offered by NGOs The employees come from 15 different countries and how Troop Corporate Social Action plan to solve the problems through the development of sites and optimization of the channels of these organizations with new technologies, among them, social networking, "she confirms.

Kind Regards

Cross Cultural Adjustment

Globally Integrated Enterprise

 

The are many challenges in working in a different country with a new culture , but on this project it isn't just Brazil that is the new culture! All 15 of the team here are from different countries and continents . The whole project brings us together in leadership roles to test our skills in working closely with different cultures , which is becoming more common in IBM as we grow into a Globally Integrated Enterprise. 

First the culture changes  in our daily lives in Recife 

 

Well we're in a hot country which means that activities start early in the day . School starts at 7:15 and finishes at 1pm . Looking out the window at 6 o'clock in the morning the beach and side walk are full with walkers and joggers . It gets dark early here by 6pm so again just before sunset the beach is busy. 

Knowing that our working days were going to be quite sedentary we decided to set up 2 groups , the walkers and the runners . anyone who knows me is aware tat I've just had surgery on my left knee for a torn cartlige so can't really run at the moment ..to my disgust!!  so I joined the walkers . We go out every morning at 6 a.m

for about 40 minutes . This was going really well until the tropical rain started bucketing down yesterday. It's not that I'm worried about walking in the rain..how could you be coming from Ireland? But there's absolutely no-one else out and everywhere is deserted .

The working day

This starts at 8:15 so that we can be in the office for 8:30 . Following our early morning activities we have breakfast together and catch up with everyone . The 15 of us are split into 5 teams of 3 and each works with an NGO . It's great to have the opportunity to find out how each team is getting on and swapping hints and tips . 
The working day is from 8:30 - 6:30 but with an hour and a half for lunch . What's that all about ? I never take more thank about 30 minutes for lunch? As we need to fit in with the  culture and how the Client works we of course need to do this part as well...so it's off to the shopping centre for lunch a stroll around .

How do meetings work?

Meetings are very different here than at home . To start with there are quite a few interruptions  by other people or phone calls which is fine once you understand what's going on . Also the discussions change direction very quickly from a business topic to a social topic and back again . The most important difference for me is that everyone is equal in the discussions and challenging each other and interrupting to correct someone is seen as a good thing in order to clarify . There is a real feeling of teaming and collaboration 

That's all for today ...I'll be back soon with more news from the Tropics !! Hope you are all well

Oh by the way - if you ever meet someone who was with me on this trip to Brazil ask them to say  ' Go on Ya Good Thing'   ..this is one of the phrases I'm teaching them to connect with the Irish!

Visit to ARIA SOCIAL - Friday 255/2012

Today we visited Aria Social which has strong links with Casa Da Crianca .

This was an important visit as it brought to life the real work of Casa Da Crianca .

Through the project Casa Da Crianca , Aria which was a ballet and music school for  paying students was persuaded to open it's doors to children with low income and social problems , many of whom live in the Favelas (slums).

Whilst we were there we asked the students , aged between 12 and 17  what it was like to be part of the Aria . The first answer from a young girl was 'Love' , then 'friendship , 'belonging ' and all very positive comments . One young boy described his life before joining Aria and told us about being homeless and aimless with no focus in his life . Aria changed this for him . These youths practice 5 days a week and are so talented in both dancing and singing . They also performed an African slavery dance for us . 

It was a fantastic experience. 

More information and photos   

What is ARIA Social?

Aria Social aims to be the first introduction, through art and culture, in providing children and youths to  awaken their artistic and creative potential and to improve opportunities in their personal, professional lives and support them to recognise their  civilian identity.

Through continuing education workshops in the areas of dance, music (singing / choir), capoeira and percussion, Aria has an average of 420 students, from low-income communities and high social risk, making art a privileged way to strengthen self-esteem and the development of personal, relational, cognitive and productive. Thus, in addition to educational opportunities focused on art education, develop complementary actions and impactful for the professional future of our youth through workshops for "telling" stories, poetry and literature, text production, computer classes, cultural lectures, preventive and human development, monitoring of school performance, and psychosocial support.

 

OUR PROJECT WITH CASA DA CRIANÇA

 CASA DA CRIANÇA

We were first introduced to the CASA DA CRIANÇA’ project a couple of weeks before we left home during our pre-work stage . We were lucky to have had several calls with our Client and translator Laura . During our first week here we have spent  most of the time on the 'Definition stage' -  listening to our Client , understanding their organisation , discussing their needs , defining the barriers and asking the Client key questions to ensure that we have fully understood their  current organisation and challenges. 


Today we have succeeded in working together with our Client to complete and agree on our 'Statement Of Work' . This was a great milestone for us !!   

Objective of Assignment

To design a portal solution to improve communication between the CASA DA CRIANÇA national coordination team (based in Recife) and the social franchisers in participating states.

Here is some more information about CASA DA CRIANÇA’

Beneficiaries

CASA DA CRIANÇA’s main office is in Recife (capital of the state of Pernambuco), but the organization has representation in 19 Brazilian cities, 16 of which offer active social franchises. In its 13 years of activity, the project has remodelled (and humanised) 33 institutions in 15 states, including the country’s capital district. Over 20,000 children have been benefited, either directly or indirectly, from CASA DA CRIANÇA’s interventions.

The target population consists of:

·    Underprivileged children and adolescents;

·     Child victims of abandonment and mistreatment;

·   Children at day care centers and youth spaces (where educational services and   programs are provided);

·     Children at health centers and clinics;

·     Children undergoing cancer treatment;

·     Children with special needs.

  

Today was day 2 with our Clients from Casa Da Crianca  . Here are some of the team 
L/R Sonya Favretto (IBM) Patricia Chalaca (Executive Director and Founder of Casa Da Crianca) , Lavinia Mata De Petribu ( Casa Da Crianca) , Laura Cavalcanti (Casa Da Crianca) ,
Deirdre Dowling (IBM) , Laurie Santos (IBM)  

The story of Casa Da Crianca is fascinating . Starting in 1999 by a couple  of architects
The Projeto CASA DA CRIANÇA (The Child’s Home Project) is a nonprofit organisation certified by the federal government as an OSCIP (a civilian-led organization for public service) that aims to defend the rights of and provide a better quality of life for underprivileged children and adolescents throughout Brazil.

With the vision of improving the poor conditions of the Casa de Carolina- a shelter located in the city of Recife for disadvantaged children- architects Patrícia Chalaça and Marcelo Souza Leão came together in 1999 along with several other architects and interior designers to remodel the shelter. This remodelling project was very successful and inspired many architects from all over Brazil to carry out similar initiatives in their own home towns. To support their enthusiasm and commitment, Patricia and Marcelo created the CASA DA CRIANÇA Project. They labelled it as a social franchise technology and formalized it into a comprehensive manual with tools and information on how to replicate the successful model of Casa de Carolina. More than 13 years later, this project has grown significantly, working to improve the physical structures and management of child and youth centers all throughout Brazil just like Casa de Carolina.

The CASA DA CRIANÇA Project has three primary focus areas:

1.    Construction and remodelling of several types of child and youth care centres- the organisation brings together a group of architects and interior designers to design and build centers that offer services in education (day care centers), children with special needs, pediatric cancer treatment, and rehabilitation (for victims of  abandonment and violence);
2.    Capacity building initiatives for child and youth centers- using the Cia dos Anjos Programme as a flagship, the organisation helps to improve the operations and organisational management of these centres;
3.    Public Policy advocacy- the organization works with various government bodies in Brazil to help the public sector develop policies that better meet the needs and basic rights of under served children and youth in the country.

To day we met our Clients for the first time from Casa Da Crianca , I'm working with Sonya Favretto and Laurie Santos on this project .
We're just working through our facts gathering with the Client and will continue tomorrow . More information on the great work that they do in Casa Da Crianca to come!!


http://www.projetocasadacrianca.com.br/site/index.html

The CSC Brazil 12 Team

The Brazil 12 Team - after months of talking on the phone this was the first time that we've all been together.
 
Back row L-R  Deirdre Dowling (Ireland) , Julio Maldonado (Alex) USA, Kenichi Nakamura (Japan, Stefan Furrer (Switzerland ) Yvonne Hung (UK) , Sabin Popa (Romania) , Sharon Si Khia (Singapore), Sandra Augst (Germany )
Front Row L-R - Drew Wright (USA) , Sonya Favretto (Canada) , Daniel Symonds ( Australia), Tony Nix (USA) , Gorard Jerglav (Slovenia) , Etsuko Ito (Japan) , Laurie Santos (USA)

I'm here in Recife!

At last the day arrived and I travelled to Recife via London and Lisbon . An unexpected air traffic strike in Portugal meant that I missed my flight to Recife on Friday and stayed over night in Lisbon . It was fine the good thing was that I was able to meet up with Sabin , one of my CSC colleagues from Rumania who was on the flight the next day . The flight was 7 hours and I managed to watch 3 films , The Help, The Descendants and Alfred Nobbs . I was arriving at Recife at 8:30 pm  and wanted to try to get into the right sleep pattern straight away . On arrival in Recife we were met by a representative of the CDC who has arranged this trip for IBM . It's always a relief to see that there is actually someone to meet you !!   The rest of the team had arrived earlier in the day so Sabin and I were the last ones . The hotel is the Jangadeiro  and my room is nice and big , as it will be home for a month it's great to have some space. It also looks out onto palm trees and the beach right in the middle of Via Boagem , the longest boulevard in the world.  The only downside is the frequent warning for sharks , apparently it is one of the unsafest beaches  with frequent shark attacks . so guess who wont be dipping their toes in the water!!  Thank goodness for the swimming pool in the hotel! The photos below are the view from my hotel bedroom

Today I'm meeting with the whole team from IBM and our partners from CDC who will show us around the local area.  Tomorrow is the big day when we get to meet our Clients from Casa Da Crianca
http://www.projetocasadacrianca.com.br/site/index.html