I have been in Campo Grande for two weeks and I have bitter sweet feelings knowing that i am leaving tomorrow morning! I have had amazing experiences getting to know my host sister Sarah, our many friends from the Universities and traveling to all the places the program has brought us! My friends and I had so much fun going to the Pantanal and Bonita where we fished, snorkeled, experienced many frightening bugs, ate amazing food and met amazing people who are involved in remarkable social movements. Even though we participated in tourist activities that I will never forget my favorite part of the trip was not the events, but rather the experiences we shared with the people of these social movements in Brazil!
It brought me so much joy to share lunch with the teachers at the Kilombo and learn about their long history and their current way of life within the Kilombo as well as meet the people of the Indigenous Guarani Tribe and learn their struggles for land in Brazil. Ambrosio, the leader of one the Guarani Tribes touched me the most and brought up so many questions that can't be answered or solved over night. I was heart broken to hear the current struggle they are enduring in obtaining the land that is obligated to them according to the Brazilian Constitution and the constant violence and prejudice they have from the farmers who don't want to give up the land. Even though Ambrosio and the people of his community have no idea when they will get the land or what struggle they face in the community when the land is turned over to them they are positive and vibrant! They are not giving up and they continue to create community through cultural traditions and creating awareness to Brazilians about their situation. I am worried for their community and what the future holds, but I am also excited to see them expand and grow and I can't wait to hear the news when they are given their land rights!
Some people may not understand the importance for them to achieve their land rights and before I went to their community and met them I didn't understand either. But after meeting Ambrosio and the community members it became clear to me that they want their land so that they have the ability to just exist! Their tribe and indigenous people all over Brazil are facing such violent opposition and prejudice that they just want the ability to exist in piece and develop their culture! And this want is something that is guaranteed to them through their constitution and through the Declaration of Human Rights, but it is not being given to them. I hope that through the awareness they are creating and the judicial system that they are able to achieve these simple rights and that the people of Brazil will continue to push for change within their developing democracy!
I also greatly enjoyed presenting at the Human Rights Conference yesterday! It was such an honor to be a part of the conference and get to share about education being used as a tool to advance human rights and social movements within Brazil. It was a great ending to such a great program and I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to meet such wonderful people and be a part of such an amazing program through the University of Washington! I hope you have all enjoyed reading my adventures as well and even though the program through school is ending I look forward to sharing more experiences with you as I stay in Brazil for a few more weeks!
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