A cultural service
Schools repaired, hygiene classes taught, arts and crafts made, question and answer sessions given, but the largest lesson learned in a trip to Brazil was cultural, said Jessica Cox, junior majoring in speech pathology and vice president of VIDA.
During Spring Break VIDA, Volunteers Involved in Development Abroad, went to the southern parts of Brazil to donate time, supplies and to help the communities they visited realize that they can make a difference, Cox said.
“I had the most amazing experience with one girl who asked why we would want to come so far and help,” Cox said. “I was able to tell her that I am one person and I was able to impact 500 plus people. It was a whole new idea to her.”
Robson Chaves, Portuguese lecturer and faculty adviser to VIDA, said in Brazil there are no clubs similar to ones available in the universities or in the community. Chaves, a Brazilian native, said the culture in Brazil leans heavily on institutionally-imposed programs and there is little to no grassroots activity.
“We visited one university where the students were about five blocks from one of the schools that we repaired,” Chaves said. “Think about how much easier they could have repaired that school. It’s just not in their culture.”
Rachael Senft, social work major, senior and VIDA member, said philanthropy isn’t an important part of Brazilian culture like it is here. She said she hopes to make it back to Brazil not just for a week or so, but to help implement programs to help the community become self-reliant.
“It’s a wonderful thing that we did,” Senft said. “But I’d like to see more of a sustainable effort and program.”
That is a future goal of VIDA, to help start service, social and other groups in Brazil, Cox said. The students visited Don Bosco University and plan to start there and at other similar schools to start the grassroots organizations, she said.
The members of VIDA were able to see a variety of places ranging from metropolitan and well off, to some very poor areas, Chaves said.
Despite rapid economic and social growth, Brazil is developing unevenly with a small percentage of the population receiving most of the wealth and social advances, Chaves said. There are major problems in Brazil ranging from the sewer system to leaky school rooftops, he said.
“In Brazil there is a lack of people actually doing something,” Chaves said.
However, Cody Romney, civil engineering major, sophomore and VIDA member, said it wasn’t all work and the Brazilian people also have a lot to teach Americans.
“It was amazing, awesome, I would definitely go again,” Romney said.
Of the 14 participants, six could speak Portuguese and were able to help translate for those who couldn’t.
VIDA is planning on going to Brazil again next year and participates in a variety of different service projects that benefit the community and people around world.
For more information e-mail usuvida@gmail.com. A Facebook group is also available for more information regarding upcoming meetings and activities.
–seth.bracken@aggiemail.usu.edu