Ode Magazine, “the online community for intelligent activists,” is running a feature story in their March issue, Dutch edition about Crescer e Viver and used one my photos in a spread.
It’s great that an internationally-recognized magazine features stories about small, community-based NGO’s in the developing world. They’re the ones that need help the most. Crescer e Viver is essentially a child development organization, but they’ve broken from traditional practices and take a very different approach to child development called ‘social circus‘. I have yet to see a social circus program here in the U.S., but there’s no reason why it wouldn’t be as successful a model as it has been in Rio de Janeiro.
The text on the spread roughly translates to:
To cooperate, confront challenges, and trust in others: these are qualities that come in handy for young people from the slums of Rio de Janeiro. They learn this at Crescer e Viver. This ‘social circus’ is teaching young people between 7 and 24 years old all the tricks of the trade: juggling, acrobatics, clowning, fire spitting, trapeze walking, but Crescer e Viver, which means “to grow and live” not only wants the students under their blue and white tent to be entertainers, but to seek social change.
The circus is an outlet, a place for young people to discover their talents and make ties. Those who participate, learn well, and engage in social activities are improving their ability for success in life. In this circus, they’re preparing young people to be socially-conscious and concerned citizens, all for a brighter life in Rio. | Marco Visscher