Fundação Terra
The Fundação Terra (usually referred to as the Arcoverde project in Germany ) is a self-help organization financed by donations , most of which come from Germany , in the “Rua do Lixo” (garbage street) poor district of the north-eastern Brazilian town of Arcoverde . The name means " Foundation Earth".
development
The project was founded in 1984 on its own initiative (and not as a foundation) by Father Airton Freire de Lima with the help of the residents of the poor area. Previously, the garbage dump at the end of Garbage Street in the southeastern part of the city had fed the residents of the street alone by looking for food and usable or sellable items. People lived in tiny mud huts under unsanitary and unworthy conditions. Little by little, Father Airton and the residents managed to gradually improve the situation, mainly through donations. Since it was founded, the Fundação Terra has developed into a project divided into many sectors , in which not only many people have found work in a wide variety of areas, but also training opportunities for all age groups, but above all for children and young people. The supporting pillars are: education, health, faith. In addition to school classes, the Fundação Terra has a kindergarten , computer courses in its own PC pool, an old people's home with 18 places (expanded by three places in 2004), a mother-and-child house, two farms, a shoemaker's shop, a paper recycling group and two chapels. With the help of the donations, permanent houses are gradually being built for the residents of Müllstrasse, and individuals are supported in their external training courses or with other needs. The foundation also offers residents T. free health checks. On the farms, in the paper recycling group, in the cobbler's shop and other small areas, the participants earn their own small livelihood, with the aim of one day being able to operate independently from the Fundação Terra. The quality of life of the residents of Müllstrasse has improved considerably over the past 20 years. The community has grown to a parish of around 400 families.
Fundação Terra offers German donors annual newsletters and sponsorships for individual children. In addition, Father Airton Freire de Lima regularly travels to Germany to give lectures about his work and to recruit new donors, most recently in September 2005. In March 2007, instead of Father Airton, his brother Wellington visited congregations in Germany, France and the Netherlands , also in October 2009. There are currently around 600 regular donors in Germany, 50 of whom have special sponsorships with school children. Volunteers, e.g. B. Local community service providers, especially from Germany, are involved in the project.
Web links
- German-language website
- Fundação Terra / Foundation Earth (Portuguese)