Monday 15th March 2010

Hi, this is William, and I am on my way to Brazil, to help support the Amigos Charity by talking to other businesses, churches and organisations about the work the charity is doing. We are being met at Sao Paulo airport in around 12 hours and taken to Pouso Alegre, where we will start from.

Travelling with Amigos Director Phil Pugsley, who is sitting right opposite me in the lounge telling me all about the latest developments in Uganda.

We will keep you updated we we go - next communication from the Southern Hemisphere!

Tuesday 16th March, 2010

Finally landed in the teeming city of Sao Paulo, at 6am after an 11 hour flight. Here’s a tip, when on a bigger plane, try to get over the wings or towards the front if you possibly can - at the back you get thrown around a lot more - that’s why first class is at the front!

Well, we had lots of Argentinian soldiers in uniform on the plane, which made me slightly nervous, given the current status of the Falklands, although seeing the Cyprus and UN badges made be feel slightly better.

Sao Paulo reminded me of Mexico - hot humid and crammed full of people, even at 6:00 am.

So Phil and I were very glad when Amaury Braga, our host for the 10 days I am here, arrived to take us out to the relatively calm and pleasant surroundings of Pouso Alegre. This city is around 100,000 people and we have really been blessed already. Amaury’s family have given us a great welcome, and have arranged a tour for us to different places around this southern part of Brazil to visit different organizations.

You can view a video of Pouso Alegre here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6v-UP57XXM

The drive here and the scenery we passed through was spectacular - including miles and miles of strawberry fields, sloping down from the verdant countryside. Everyone on the road seems to think that they are Ayrton Senna, but the speed of the driving contrasts dramatically with the slower pace of life here in this small city.

You can see Phil and Amaury enjoying a coffee here in downtown Pouso Alegre.

We begin tomorrow by heading to Campos do Jordao. But today it is rest - chatting with the family and thinking about how we will speak about Amigos and the work that is going on there to help young Ugandans get educated at Kira Farm.

Wednesday 17th March, Campos do Jordao

Now the work part of our trip starts. But not before a 6.30 am run up into the countryside with Amaury, who took me up on the trails out of the city for 14K. By the time we returned, the temperature was in the 70’s with 80% humidity, but the scenery was certainly worth it! Breakfast consisted of a range of exotic fruits, which included Guava, sharon fruit, passion fruit, mango and local cheeses.

So now we are off to Campos do Jordao, for our first meeting with business people who are interested in hearing about what Amigos are doing. Phil will be speaking, me supporting and Amaury translating.

Campos do Jordao is like little Switzerland, set 1500 metres up in the mountains with the houses build in a chalet style. It is reached by some tortuous turns through potholed roads and lumps of concrete disguised as sleeping policemen randomly inserted along the way. 120km takes in excess of 2 hours as we jockeyed through the mountains with lorries and buses. The spectacular scenery was disguised by low hanging cloud, mist and rain, and as the temperature plummeted I wondered about the advice I had received on not needing anything else other than shorts. The one day I could have done with the sweater Louisa made me pack! But what a fantastic place! The entrance only gives a flavour of the place, with beautifully decorated squares, ornate houses, banks built in a chalet style etc.

We arrived at a beautiful restaurant called Nonna Mimi, owned by Sergio and his family, to a table with enough food for eight of us. One thing to mention here about the hospitality is that it is second to none - and the food is great, so no chance of losing any kilos here, even if I managed to run every day!

Sergio (in the grey top below) explained about his life, a little of the history of this place and how it is becoming a playground for the rich and famous of Sao Paulo, who come up here in Winter to experience the clean air and good food! Watch out for the great rice puddings (bottom left) if you come here!

Later we went to the church, where Phil was speaking about the work of Amigos in Uganda. However, nothing is quite as straightforward and Phil was invited to demonstrate his guitar skills first. So not only was this a speaking engagement but also it began by jamming with the band (and Sergio, who had done a quick change to become Pastor Sergio, one of the leaders of this new church which was planted only 3 years ago). Phil, if these talents you have ever get out, Joss may come a calling for some backing!

Phil Pugsley from the Amigos Charity jams with the band in Campos do Jordao

The presentation of a slide show, with Amaury translating for Phil, went really well and it was great to see the reception he received and the warmth there is for Africa from ordinary people here in Brazil.

The meeting broke up around 10 pm and following Pizza we travelled back to Pouso Alegre, through fog, rain and finally a brilliantly clear sky, glimpsing the Southern Cross amid a sea of brilliant stars in the sky. Tomorrow a local day in Pouso Alegre.

Thursday 18th March, Pouso Alegre

After arriving back late last night, a relaxing day in the city today, meeting with a graphic designer who is interested in following Phil’s example with greeting cards.

Amigos started with Phil doing what he was good at - printing. Professionally trained as a printer, he tells the story of how he asked his boss one day if he could use the printing presses after work to print some cards to help raise money for the orphans he had met in Uganda. His boss said yes. Then he asked a card company if they could donate some card for him to print on. Again they said yes. He went to an envelope company to see if they would donate envelopes. ‘How many would you like?’  came the reply. Phil felt this was a sign that he was moving in the right direction and that God was telling him - ‘do what you are good at, I’ll take care of the rest’. Before long, he was printing and selling greetings cards through friends, his church, his contacts, and the initial funding to help in Uganda was started.

You can view some of the designs and purchase greetings cards directly from the Amigos website here:

This is the message that he is bringing to Brazil on this trip - you can start serving by doing what you are good at - but you have to start - no one else can do this for you. So here in our meeting this morning there was some enthusiasm for his idea of printing and selling greetings cards here in Brazil.

This evening Phil spoke at the Agua Viva church in Pouso Alegre. The great thing about churches here is that the doors are open, so people outside can hear what is going on inside. Why is it in the UK that we close the church doors? Maybe we feel safer inside. Or maybe it is just that it is 20 degrees warmer here than in England!

Friday 19th March, Monte Verde

The day starts bright with sunshine and it is going to be warm again, as we head for the mountains and Monte Verde. This is a great place, population around 7000, which again looks like a mini Switzerland. Some of the images are out of this world, and not what we expected at all!

We visited a missionary training base where we were able to share in their vision of equipping young people to bring hope to our hurting world.  The centre is set in a beautiful green valley, and Phil spoke to these guys about Uganda and how inspired we are by their dedication and desire to make a difference. You can see a great video of them singing an Afrikaans song  on you tube here:

Group of young trainee missionaries in Monte Verde - these guys are going to be great!

Drove back to a beautiful sunset towards a weekend, where we head for our first Brazilian barbecue tomorrow.

Saturday 20th March, Pouso Alegre, then Campinas

Next couple of days are going to be busy. But got to see a little of the real Brazil this Saturday morning as my painful toe (I know, I sound like a wimp) was not much better. So the host family here arranged for me to go to a clinic and to give a blood sample. Now anyone who knows me knows that needles and I are not best friends, so spent much of the night in turmoil dreaming of nasty things that could happen.

Pleasantly surprised to see a really clean clinic with loads of nurses and doctors - who were really friendly. Sat in the chair waiting for the nurse to say a Brazilian version of

‘Now just a little prick with the needle sir’

to which I would reply - no I’d better not write it… but Amaury kept telling me jokes and it was over in no time. No fainting, no feeling dizzy and really easy. No waiting around for the results, as Amaury had smiled sweetly at the nurse and managed to get the results sped up. They were available within an hour by internet. Cost £4. Fortunately they told me there was nothing major wrong and the docs advice was to keep taking the anti-inflammatory tablets. Hopefully I will be back running by the end of the week. But overall impression is that the health system is really clean, ordered and structured, providing you can pay or have a good insurance policy.  But many people here don’t have private health insurance. Unless you company pays for it, it is too expensive. So if you are coming here to teach, try to find a school with some benefits to help!

Spent some time in Pouso Alegre this morning, where there is a Saturday artisan craft fair (girls I really hope you like the presents I will bring back) and the temperature started climbing towards 80 degrees plus.

We headed off to a family barbecue, which in Brazil is quite a thing. Starting around 1pm, it will go on until 10pm officially, with the whole extended Braga family (around 30 or so) joining together at a country club outside Pouso Alegre. They had got toether to celebrate a birthday and family members had come from as far as Sao Paulo and Recife (in the NE). And the meat just keeps on coming. Been here a week and not a sign of a fish anywhere on a menu. Different cuts of cow, pork, sausage, chicken, chicken hearts (strangely tasty) were delivered up for us to nibble on, accompanied by cold beer and soft drinks. Lots of talking, laughing and eating - a true Brazilian experience. Won’t need to eat again for a week.

Tony’s Story

Here is a little story of someone in Brazil who is already making a difference. Tony is a hairdresser here in downtown Pouso Alegre. He came to the church where Phil was speaking on Thursday evening. So impressed was he by the vision of Amigos, he decided to go home and make a difference straightaway. He downloaded images from the Amigos website, then made a poster for his barber shop. Then he put up a sign that he was adding 1 Real (about 40 pence) to the price of each haircut, which would go directly to Amigos. Customers have the option to take it off if they want to, but he is hoping that most won’t and that they will see he is trying to do something good for others. WAY TO GO TONY! Thanks for your support. If you are reading this and think you’d like to make a difference, Amigos have some ideas for how you can do this here. Alternatively you can come and teach in Uganda with Global English - for more info click here.

Now starts a run of a lot of meetings and presentations. We head off this evening to present Uganda to a group of 50-60 young people in Campinas this evening, around 2 hours away. Then back to Pouso Alegre tonight, in for a church service tomorrow, followed by a 150 minute drive to Sao Paulo. So lets go.

Campinas, Saturday night

Another road trip begins as we head south and then west this time towards Campinas, a small city towards the interior of Minas Gerais. The thunder and lightning that have been threatening all day are a spectacular backdrop to a setting sun and begin to light up the night sky as we journey. This time Filipe, Amuary’s 23 year old son, will translate for Phil as he gets ready to speak to the group at Campinas.

Phil laid out some facts and figures about Uganda:

• The youngest average age of any country in the world - 15 years old
• has 2.5 million of the 15 million orphans in Africa due to Aids
• the second fastest growing population in the world
• but a great opportunity for us to help

He spoke about the chance that each individual has to make a difference and how they could help in Africa.

Each church we go to starts with what seems like a rock band bashing out the songs or hymns - singing is a big part of evangelical life in the church here and it isn’t the warbling we often get on a sunday morning. Apparently the music is loud so that if you do not sing like a nightingale the music will drown you out. Works too - we should consider it… Students singing in Campinas

We were invited to yet another meal after the presentation and as my stomach is expanding I will need to go on a crash diet when I get home. We flew back up the motorway to Pouso Alegre and crashed out at home around 1am, with the mileometer approaching around 1000 miles on this whistle stop journey. This must be what it feels like to be a roadie for a pop star - one venue to the next, leaving into the darkness to be whisked away to another venue.

Sunday 21st March, Pouso Alegre, then Sao Paulo

Something that I noticed most about Brazil is the way that drivers use all the road. In England we are quite conservative, we stick to our lane and usually only change lanes if we are overtaking. No here - oh no. We swing from the fast lane across to the hard shoulder to take corners at 120 km/h, dodge in between lorries who are trying to outgun each other up hills.It is as if they have taken the Interlagos racetrack and transplanted it onto the highways of Southern Brazil. You can have up to 20 points on your license here, although each speeding fine carries between 5 - 12 points. So be nice to the policeman.

Resting in Pouso Alegre after another presentation here this morning, before heading off to the city of Sao Paulo, 3 hours drive from here. Watching the rain lash down and the lightning as the thunder rolls across the sky. It is in the 90’s and humid. I look out over the rooftops, past the satalite dishes, past Angelis Moda Intima (I think that is a lingerie factory) towards the grey skyline, as we are about to make a video for Amigos which will go on the Portuguese version of the website. Very tired but one more gig today and then can rest up a little more tomorrow.

Good news, toe getting better. Many thanks to Sr Leo, the printer (see Wednesday above) who resolved to bring me some Devil’s claw, from which I have been making tea. It’s foul smelling, tastes like watered earth, but it might just be working.

Sao Paulo

Sunday afternoon say us take another long trip towards Sao Paulo, south and fast. Beginning to get the hang of travelling here. Just have no fear and go with it.

Sao Paulo is approached through the hills and looks almost picturesque from a distance - a really long distance - then when you start getting closer the traffic begins to snarl and you get tied up in lines. Here’s a tip, if you leave much more than a cigarette paper’s width between you and the car in front, someone will dive in.

We got into the Pinheiros part of the city and parked in a garage which opens on a sunday specially for the church where we were to be speaking.

We were early, so we went across the road to a less than inviting looking cafe, which had a large stainless steel container on the counter. We saw that it contained coffee so Phil decided to order one. Amaury and I chose water and a juice from the fridge. Phil’s coffee resembled thick black sludge, and tasted somewhat similar, he said. We walked down the road which they are digging up to make a new underground station. Phil nearly stepped into the open sewer. This wasn’t proving to be his day.

But that all changed when the service started. 2 and a half hours later, with the audience filled with joy and tears, he walked off the stage with the sound of perhaps the most spontaneous reception we have received all week. Several people were interested in not only Amigos but also teaching English as a Foreign Language. The bit I managed about supporting Amigos went really well. I met a potential agent who wants to represent us in SP so that is really encouraging. ‘Good to meet you Richard and looking forward to working with you in the future!’

A late night drive back to Pouso Alegre was made more passable by the presence of Maria Jesus, Pastor Oswaldo’s mother-in-law. So spent some time shouting loudly in bad Portuguese about the rain, temperature, the road and not much else, while Phil and Amaury were up front talking about monkeys.

Monday 22nd March, 2010 - Pouso Alegre

After a frenetic few days, of over 1100 miles, 3 meetings and 6 presentations, a welcome wind down day. Phil visited the local square, I met with a couple of language schools also interested in Phone English and we chilled out with the family over a meal of steak, feijoao, rice and vegetables, following on from delicious pao quejio…

which is bread made with cheese. A really relaxing day was turned upside down when Amaury invited me for a run. Thankfully the toe is better so off I went, with a water bottle, in the late afternoon at about 25 degrees. We picked up a friend of his (Ediao) who is training for an ultra marathon in Sao Paulo and had already run 22 Kms that morning. We headed for the hills around Pouso Alegre, only for it to start getting really dark and really warm. And then the light show started in the hills around 10 miles away. The dirt tracks turned into muddy pools from the previous days rain as we headed through the valley, the sky now black and the fireflies buzzing by, our only light coming from the ever nearing lightning. Picking our way slowly round this tortuous route, walking because you didn’t know where your feet were going, watching out for anything that moved (not that you could see anything although thanks for reminding me about the snakes guys), I wondered if I would ever see my wife and kids again. Thankfully up another hill, round a corner, across some barbed wire that I am really glad my running partners knew about, we saw a light and I shouted civilisation,  only to be looked at like a nutter from my colleagues and the people in the house. ‘It’s OK, he’e English’ was probably what they were too polite to say.

We returned to the city and never have I been so glad to run on concrete! We made it back 15 Km later just as the rain came and the lightning hit the streets. But a memorable way to end my last full day here. A final Brazilian beer in the kitchen and it was off to blog and then bed.

Tuesday 23rd March - Thursday 24th March - Pouso Alegre - Sao Paulo Airport - London

This is my final blog entry, ahead of a long bus, plane, shuttle and then train journey. I leave Pouso Alegre with fond memories and would gladly come back here again. The people and the food both get rave reviews, while the driving makes you feel slightly less in control of your destiny (as if any of us are) but definitely a place to come back to - one day. For those of you who pray, please keep Phil in your thoughts as he goes on to speak at three more meetings this week, Machado on Wednesday, the at different locations in Pouso Alegre on Thursday and Friday. All the best Phil!

And a big thanks to Amaury, Celeste, Andre and Filipe, who made me so welcome and made me want to come back here again! Next time I will try to speak more in Portuguese, I promise!

Devon Soul Singer Joss Stone has formally opened the Kira Farm Training Centre in Uganda.  

Joss has been a supporter of Amigos ever since she made a visit to Uganda in 2006 to see the work that the Devon based charity is doing for young orphans there. So it was great that she could spare the time to go back and formally open the training centre 3 and a half years later.

The centre, based around 45 minutes from Kampala, has been up and running since March, with the help of generously donated funds from a wide range of individuals and organisations, local and national, including Global English.

On her website, Joss posted the following comment on 27th October:

‘Hey guys!  I’m in Uganda at the moment, its gorgeous!  And very very hot.

We opened Kira Farm a couple days ago, its really amazing there.  Amigos are doing a great job and so are the girls at the school and there is one boy.  Goes to show that it doesn’t matter where you are from or what your situation is, there is always hope and you can truly do anything you want in this life.  You just have to stop talking and start doing.

I’m impressed, there is a link on this site to Amigos, go check it out. Where would we be in this world with out the lovely people.’

Amigos Director Phil Pugsley has been one of the driving forces behind the north Devon based charity Amigos. He has seen it grow from a dream with humble beginnings to this exciting point.  He said:

‘It was great to see how much our students have achieved in just six months. It breaks your heart to hear of their backgrounds. We just pray these kids make it as they get this great second chance in life Kira Farm Training Centre has to offer, I have a very strong feeling they will!

 Joss Stone has this amazing ability to totally empathize with our Kira students, she encouraged them to use their talents, just like she has done with her voice. We’re all good at doing something!’ 

 

Students at Kira Farm are learning a range of skills, from agriculture, animal husbandry, home economics and tailoring to English, Maths and business skills. The aim is for them to take these skills back to their villages, where they can share them with their local communities, therefore improving the life for rural Ugandans.  

Representatives from Westcountry TV in the UK also travelled out to film the opening. Cordelia Lynch has put together a 3 part report, to be shown live starting this week (November 10th). You can catch Westcountry Live at 6pm in the Westcountry ITV region or via the website here>>.  

 

If you are interested in finding out more about Kira Farm, or the Amigos charity, visit their website at www.amigos.org.uk.

 

 

Katie Sheehy, Global English grad and new TEFL teacher, sent us this report on her 3 week trip to Uganda, where she taught English at 2 primary schools. All the words here are hers so thanks for the report Katie! 

My volunteer English teaching experience in Masinidi, Uganda, Part 1

by Katie Sheehy