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Lenten Stories: Week 5

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Drama and art skills bring new life to children and young people in Brazil

Fernandez Peira de Silva, 19, lives in the Vila Prudente’s favela (slum) in Sao Paulo, Brazil. At six months of age his parents moved from the mountains of north eastern Brazil to Sao Paulo, the country’s biggest city, looking for work. Fernandez has three brothers and a sister. Life in Vila Prudente is tough. The majority of family members are unemployed or underemployed, homes are crowded, opportunities are limited. The influence of narcotics traffic is pervading the life of all who live in the favela; armed gangs control much of the activities of the community.

As Fernandez reflects: seven out of every ten of young people in this favela would be under the direct or indirect influence of the gangs, either dealing in drugs or running arms, doing the work of the gang leaders.
At the age of ten, a friend invited Fernandez to go with him to join a painting group at the Centro de Cultura run by Movimento de Defesa (MDF) for children and young people. Within weeks of joining the art program Fernandez came under the influence of Brian Maguire, an Irish artist who spent time as a volunteer with the centre, teaching young students portrait painting. This mentoring and positive influence changed Fernandez’ life. MDF’s art program in Vila Prudente favela teaches participants to be proud of where they live and that each person has gifts to offer the wider community.

Students learn portrait painting and are encouraged to see that art is a way of communicating with others at a deeper level. Participants are taught to look into the eyes of the person they are painting, to get to know them and engage with them, to create trust and hope.

Fernandez now uses his art skills to give others hope, teaching two days a week in the Centre. He sees the program as crucial to the future of young people of the Vila Prudente favela and the other favelas that surround the major cities of Brazil.

“Without places like the Centro de Cultura there is very little hope for change. The Centre is like an oasis, where one learns self respect, respect for others and where we develop a sense of dignity and self-worth. We have the opportunity to develop our skills of self expression and life skills which will enable us to contribute to the well being of the community as well as discovering the gifts within us,” he said.

Fernandez dreams of becoming an artist and using his talents as an artist to free the young people of his favela from the oppression of poverty, gang activity and drugs. He hopes to continue his study and develop his career as a professional artist. As well as his two days a week at the Centre he works three days in a graphic design and print shop as well as dedicating one day to studying English.

As difficult as the future may be for himself and his friends, Fernandez is a young man of hope.
“There is always hope. Look at me, at ten years of age I went to the Centre to learn to draw, I hardly spoke and was very timid. I have come to respect myself as a human being and to value the gifts I have to offer others,” he said.

Fernandez believes that art can be used to transform the community. When talking of his role as mentor and teacher to the children of the Centre he says, “I hope my young friends feel the warmth, the love and care that was given to me so that they will feel and live the dignity that that can be achieved as an artist.
“I am part of a team that gives light in darkness. Together we are creating new opportunities, new ways of living. It is impossible to imagine life in the favela without the Centre. Everyone in the favela is aware of its existence and is touched by its influence for the good.”

Your support
Your donation to Caritas Australia’s Project Compassion will ensure that this practical and emotional care for children in the slums of Sao Paulo continue.