FAMUSF – Music without borders

FAMUSF – Fanfarra Música Sem Fronteiras, a welfare project in Brazil – supported by EnviroChemie since 2003

The latest report on the welfare project supported by EnviroChemie

As he does every year, G. Hupfer, chairman of the board, has gone on site to assess the progress

The welfare project Centro de Pomesao in Santa Fé, in the federal state of Paraná, Brazil, came into existence 20 years ago. Since 2003 it has been supported by EnviroChemie. At the beginning of our commitment, we supported the construction of a new school for street children. Through Cleibson Moreira da Silva, honorary chairman of the welfare project, we were involved in founding a new, very successful musical project 3 years ago. In mid-October of 2009 I was on site and took a look at it.

The children's house, bearing the name of its German main sponsor Erna Willi, cares for 20 malnourished toddlers. Part of the bequest of the sponsor has been used recently to renovate the building and to add a multifunction room to it. My wife and I were welcomed happily by child-minders and children alike. The impression we had of the children's house was excellent. Since I was visiting Santa Fé during the weekend, no regular lessons took place in the school for street children, but a music course for young drummers was being held. All in all, 160 children are enrolled in this care-giving school and there is a long waiting list. The school cares for its pupils in the afternoons, after the public half-day school. It helps fill-in educational gaps left by the primary school, improves social behaviour and teaches musical and handiwork skills. The achievements are quite astonishing: practically all of the 14–17 year old graduates find a job in the workshops, shops and organisations nearby. 65 children have already found employment with the school's help. The pupils' chances to enter further education or a job are much higher than those of children having only attended the public half-day school. They definitely are able to read and write well and have learned the social skills that are necessary for further education or an apprenticeship.

Much remains to be done

Due to insufficient funds, the school building, which was inaugurated 3 years ago, has neither outdoor facilities nor storm drains, so that the facade is deteriorating considerably. Additionally, the driveway needs to be fortified and a proper parking site is missing. This urgently requires investment.

FAMUSF - Music without borders

The musical project keeps amazing me. 160 children, adolescents and adults from different groups and performance skills are members of the Fanfare Group, the Brass Band and the Choir. Now, additional lessons for string instruments and wind instruments are being offered. Last year, a choir for the Generation 50+ was founded, counting about 30 members – mainly women living alone. During my weekend visit, an evening concert had been organised in which the musical project's groups, but also guest choirs from the regional capital Maringá and surrounding villages took part. The concert was free and the hall was full. A cooperation of the musical project with the University of Maringá has helped to attract well-trained music teachers and also some young university professors to hold the classes. At FAMUSF, they are able to improve their practical knowledge and in turn the young musicians reach an astonishing high level of musicianship. The fanfare group has already won several trophies in contests in the federal state of Paraná and even in Sao Paulo.

The renownedness of the project, the know-how gained in Santa Fé, and non-material support has facilitated the foundation of a small musical project in a village nearby.

Also help for elderly people

Last but not least I would like to attract your attention to the old people's home that is part of the welfare project founded by Father Antonio. 18 elderly people live in this small home. There aren't any state-run or public old age homes within 50 km. The home is mainly dependent on donations since it receives only little public support. Unfortunately, apart from the bedrooms and the kitchen, there is no properly roofed room in the home that could serve as meeting point or cafeteria. Since Brazil has abundant rainfall, it would be nice if the planned, roofed cafeteria were constructed soon.

In total, the welfare project directed by Cleibson Moreira has 30 employees working full and part time in the children's house, the school and the old people's home. They're helped by many volunteers. In addition to our sponsoring, the project receives considerable support from a group in my home region, the Klettgau. The German relief service Adveniat increases all of our donations with an approx. 20% matching donation. On site, the project receives help from the parish, some state support and earnings from festivities and events. They have just organised a Bingo game in the town and earned several thousand EUR.

Apart from salaries, energy and transport costs are major elements of expenditure. Distances are long in Brazil and the expenses for cars or buses are not much lower than in Europe.

What do we achieve with our donations?

Brazil is not a poor country anymore and there are hardly any people starving. But differences between urban and rural areas are significant and the social system is underdeveloped. Only employed people have health insurance. The number of people with minimum wage jobs is high and so are illiteracy rates. The welfare project has had considerable impact on Santa Fé, a town with more than 10,000 inhabitants. In particular, young people are being offered a vision. By means of the musical project, they get to know their country and the surrounding towns. The percentage of children doing an apprenticeship or, at least, finding a job is increasing constantly. We are achieving a great deal with our donations and our support for Cleibson Moreira and his team in Santa Fé.

G. Hupfer

Would you like to support this project? Do you need further information?

Please contact Ms. Andrea Renner
Phone +49 6154 6998 14
E-mail

All about the project see www.famusf.com.br