ABC/Task Brasil Christmas Samba Party
The following speech was given to those gathered at Task Brasil & ABC Trust's Christmas Samba Party by ABC Founder Jimena Gomez Paratcha, 2nd December 2002.
"Some people wonder why Jimmy and I have been working specifically for street children in Brazil. We met when I was living and working on a community project in Bahia. Jimmy stopped in Rio for a few days and was shocked to see army tanks going through the favelas from his hotel room.
"We both learned soon after about the cruel way in which death squads were dealing with the miserably poor in the favelas and children attempting to survive on the streets. I'll get back to that in a moment.
"For now I hope I am safe to assume that every one of us here in this fantastic venue has a comfortable place to sleep tonight and assured food for tomorrow. I urge you to remember what being a child felt like to you.
"Now imagine yourself as a child going upstairs and out the front door wondering where you will find a safe place to sleep and when you might be eating next. It is very difficult to imagine having to survive, as a child, on your own in a big city.
"In our circumstances it is even more difficult. I can't imagine what it would feel like to beg for money, to risk stealing or to do sexual favours for as little as a bag of flour or a tin of dried milk. To do drugs at the age of 7... to numb the pain of your situation rather than live the joy of being a child. If that is difficult, try to imagine 7 million children having to survive in this manner. 7 to 8 million children live and work on the streets of Brazil's cities, exposed to drugs, prostitution and all types of disease.
"But the worst threats are the organised death squads which brings us to why Jimmy and I became so concerned with the plight of children, particularly in Brazil.
"1500 children have been murdered on the streets of Salvador alone in the past 10 years. 600 were killed in Rio in 1998 alone. These are the statistics for just two cities. This will give you some perspective.... Between 1987 and 2001, eight times as many children were killed as a result of gunfire in Rio than died in the bloody Israel/Palestinian conflict. Getting children off the streets in Brazil is of major importance. This all may sound very dramatic to you... and it IS.
"Edvaldo was seven years old when he was doing all those things I mentioned earlier, to survive. From the age of 7 until he was 12 many horrific things – from sexual abuse to drug overdose – happened to him but thankfully he ended up at Circo Picolino, one of the projects ABC supports. There he has been trained in the arts of the Circus and teaches younger street children today. Now he is 26, lives in a rented flat and drives a small car to the various centres where he works.
"I can tell you with my hand on my heart that all of the projects being supported by ABC are very successful in guiding hundreds of children to a more positive way of life.
"THANK YOU to: the fundraising committee, to all the trustees for both charities for their time, energy and support and to the sponsors, thank you. And everyone here tonight because it is with every single person's help that we make the countless positive transformations.
"Remember the best way to support our work is by corporate sponsorship, standing orders and sponsoring a child. Please be generous.
"So thank you all and everyone for coming tonight and for your warm support. From myself and the charities, thank you to my wonderful, supportive and ever-patient husband, Jimmy Page."
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