Helping tommorow
Rocinha by night!
Not the boy from the story but a younger version of him…
It was way past his bedtime
Arguable beyond mine as well, though that is the beauty of being an adult – you are allowed to set your own rules and bedtimes.
There was something with this boy though, that told me that even him seemed to be someone who set his own rules, and bedtime.
He most been 9, 10 years old, dressed in nothing more than an old pair of flip flops and a pair of shorts that were too big for him, they went down way beyond the knees. I was later told that they had been gifted to him. He was bare chested and a bit dirty, and all though it was passed midnight he looked very awake and alert. Alert in a way I’ve seen before, the look of streetsmart kids who learnt early in life (..too early..) that they can trust no one but themselves and that they need to stay alert. Always. Always on guard. Like an animal who is always ready to escape, or attack..
It was just after midnight, Thursday night and we were out for a beer in Rocinha, Rios biggest favela, celebrating my friends birthday.
Since a week ago there are new restrictions in Rio and all bars and restaurants need to close at 21. Though, not necessarily in Rocinha where it is not the prefeitura or police who has the last words about these things but the drug-cartel who runs the favela.
The boy was sitting at the plastic table next to ours on the small pavement where a number of plastic chairs and tables were crammed together. He happily accepted to eat the chicken my friends had ordered, he looked hungry. He was sitting at the table with a teenage guy, probably 17-18 years old.
- The boy there is staying with that guy, my friend said and nodded over at the table.
- What?! But how old is that guy?
- 17. He took him in when he was abandoned by his parents.
- Really?! Abandon by his parents..! And he is just 17 years old..!!
My mind wondered off for a minute, thinking about what I myself did when I was 17 years old living in Sweden. I was not taking care of children, that’s for sure..!
- Well, yeah he is young but he has already lived a lot.. my friend said. He used to be the one in charge of one of the bocas (where they sell the drugs, and where you usually see 3-4 guys with weapons hanging around, selling the drugs and protecting the place for police and other cartels) around here.
- What?!! When??
- When he was 15. He is a tough kid.
- 15 years old and being in charge of a boca. Eh ok..!
- And now? What does he do?
- Help out at a construction sight. Carries material and shit.
- Eh ok..! And how did he quite working for the cartel?
- He just decided to quite.
- Can you?
- Yeayh these days you can. He decided that he preferred to live. There is only two endings for working for the cartel here, prison or death.
- True …
A few years ago, one of my middle class Brazilian student got visibly upset with me when he asked what I was going to show my parents when they visited Rio, the sugar life and Christ the redeemer?
- nae, I’m taking them to Vidigal and Parada de Lucas. Two favelas where I used to work!
- Why are you going to show them poverty?! That’s nothing to look at!
- I’m NoT going to show them poverty! I want them to get to know these places and the amazing people I’ve met there!
A few years ago, one of my middle class Brazilian student got visibly upset with me when he asked what I was going to show my parents when they visited Rio, the sugar life and Christ the redeemer?
Because yes, my fascination with the favelas has always been about the people here! Like the story above about the boy and the teenager. I was chocked to find it out, but not surprised! There are so many stories like that, people that I know personally and that I have heard of that makes the impossible possible. People who has gone through The Worst and still work so hard , to get by and to get beyond here as well.
It was very visible to me when I used to teach children in the favelas, that within a group of children there was always at least one if not a few of them who just had That thing! A strong light in the eyes, a drive , to get beyond there current reality! Most kids can remain childish and naive for much longer than many of the kids here in the favela who prob have seen more than we can ever imagine!
So the favelas, my love for and fascination of these places is definitely due to the people. And the energy. I can’t explain how much I enjoyed sitting at that plastic table last Thursday night, under the warm glowing street lights of Rochina, cheesy music playing in the background, observing the street life that never stops in that place and meeting not only the boy and the teenager but a number of other interesting people there on that pavement.
Though it’s the memories of the boy that has stayed with me. His too big shorts that he had been gifted, and his street smart look on his face.. I do wonder what he has already been through in his life, and I’m grateful that the guy have the maturity and heart to take him in… Rocinha.. a whole other world in the middle of Rio de Janeiro..! Come visit when you are around!
Thanks for listening
Yours sincerely!
x Fia x
The streetlights in Rocinha.. ❤️
