They sing, they dance and they live in community. They still have something that we have lost
Claire Watkins is a legal secretary from Bognor Regis. She found a community of people with a continued passion for life, in spite of their circumstances.
Brazil has a reputation for being a very vibrant nation. What were your first impressions of it?
It was really colourful; by that I really mean the people: they wear their hearts on their sleeves and exude passion all the time. It is like receiving a breath of fresh air.
What sort of welcome did you receive from the people you were working with on the project and the favella dwellers you were helping?
They welcomed us with open arms, completely. It was incredibly humbling. They went out of their way to be hospitable with the little that they had. One day we were working on the houses and one of the ladies who had been rehoused in the project, Vera, told us to stop working and come and have 'salgados' at her home. She put on a complete spread for us, when we thought were there to serve her!
How do people cope with life in the Favellas?
They sing, they dance and they live in community. They still have something that we have lost, though I am sure the fine weather helps! They take joy in simple pleasures. I noticed that they spent most of their lives outside their houses with each other, rather than hiding away inside.
What was the attitude of other Brazilians to the people living in favellas, and to what you were doing with Mission Direct?
At times it felt like we were entering a hidden world; some of the other Brazilians we met didn't even know about the favelas on their doorstep. Our minibus driver Paulo was particularly affected. He couldn't believe that people would volunteer all the way from the UK to do such a thing. He arranged for his wife and family to meet us and spend some time with us and it was a great opportunity for us to quietly witness the love of God.
How else has your time in Brazil changed you?
It has increased my confidence. Last month I was on local radio talking about this and there is no way I would have done anything like that before. It has opened up my world and my future with possibility.
Who would you recommend a Mission Direct Brazil trip to?
It is good if you like extrovert and tactile people! You do see and hear some bewildering stories but you change lives directly. Be prepared for the longhaul flight though - that was my first one and it was quite an ordeal for me!
Claire Watkins
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