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All of us are aware of the importance and values of good education in countries like Brazil, and especially in small poor communities like Cumbuco - but think what can WE do? |
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Donations |
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Most of the visitors that come to Cumbuco for their holidays, would like to be able to help the local children in some way, but are not sure of the best way to do it. Many others come and go with being aware of the great need of assistance to the community here. We hope that this page will demonstrate a very good way to assist the community in general, and assist all in becoming aware of the help needed. The local school has approximately 850 students which come from 450 different families in the area. So any assistance given to the school will better the lives of about 2000 people in the community. All the students are from poor families, whom struggle to find the extra money needed for school needs (books, pencils, etc.), so any donations made to the school not only helps the kids themselves directly, but helps their entire families too. The less money needed to be spent for schooling needs means more money for the family meal table, which understandably is the main priority for each household. |
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The school was built some twenty years ago, based on the population that existed in the area at the time. Due to the numbers of students at the school the school day is broken into three, the younger ones from 7-11 am, mid ages 1-5.30 PM, and the older ones 7 – 10 PM. Local, State and Federal government support for small communities and their schools is very limited to begin with, and very, very slow to be activated, so the very basic requirements and the maintenance needed to keep the school going are delayed for very long periods of time – or in the worst case, the funds are just not made available. What is “supplied” to the school is, a building (classrooms, etc.), limited reference books to be shared by all, a school uniform (“T” shirt and jeans) once a year and a very small and inadequate snack for each person each day (which in many cases is the first meal of the day!!). The rest the school must make do with. All the community would like to and in fact try to do everything possible to improve the conditions for the kids in school, but again it comes back to the same – even more money needed to be spent away from the family meal table. |
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The lowly and slowly paid teachers at the school are very dedicated, they could earn better money working elsewhere, but they too are parents and members of the local community, understand the importance of education. They do not look on their “job” as a just a teacher, but as an important role in trying to better the kids lives, and the life of the whole community. Not only will aid to the school improve the conditions for the students and their families, but will in fact go a long way in improving the attitude of the community towards the tourist. As in most cases the locals look at a tourist as some one who comes and enjoys all that is here to offer (which is a lot) and goes, once the community comes to understand that the tourist wants to, and is in fact helping, then the tourist will be seen in a different light altogether, and they too will become in important part of the infrastructure. In most places advice given to the visitor is to just leave their footprints – nothing else, in this case we are asking you not just to leave your footprints but also a part of your heart. Donations do not need to be large, it is not important how big or small, it really does all add up. For the day to day, ongoing needs like pencils, paper, erasers, scissors, etc., etc., it is better that the visitor does bring these in for several reasons, to purchase most items it is much, much cheaper to buy them here (and the local shopkeeper will make a small profit, so your donation will in fact help more people). Also stationery weighs a lot and takes up a lot of space, where a 5 or 10 Euro/Dollar note is easily folded up in your wallet and hardly weighs anything! The stationery items are given to the director/headmistress of the school as she in the best position to know which of the students has the greatest need at the time. Support needed, can be split into the following: Day to Day – exercise books, pencils, paper, erasers, scissors, coloured pencils, coloured paper, ink cartridges for printer, paper for printer, etc. Equipment - the classrooms are overcrowded and hot, which makes it difficult for the kids to try and study there is a big need for fans(ventilators) in all the classrooms, some already have some - thanks to donations from visitors, but most rooms don’t have them yet. Maintenance – repair and upkeep of existing equipment, e.g. computer, printing machine, toilets, drinking water fountains, electric lighting, paint and the list goes on and on. Suggestions – National Geographic Magazines, a great reference book for kids, especially with the folders and maps, and not too expensive for a family or a group of people to make a yearly subscription, and of course the publishers will remind you when your subscription is renewable, so you can keep your support on going with out the worry of forgetting! On visiting the school, many people will of course see other areas in which they feel they can assist in. The most important thing to remember is every little bit helps and helps a lot. One of the good things about helping the school, is that you, as the visitor can see first hand what is needed, see what has already been done and the effect it has made and, more importantly meets the kids and the teachers. Any information, or details on how to help, please contact the following: informationcumbuco@gmail.com |
