AECTEA Association - Free Volunteer Opportunities in Brazil

Recently, the actor and accomplished capoeirista known as Besouro paid Capim Grosso a visit in order to participate in a workshop together with local contra-mestre Diu that included AEC-TEA as the principal sponsor.  Besouro, whose real name is Aílton Carmo, is famous for his participation in the hit movie of the same name (and one of very few movies about capoeira, aside from disasters like Only the Strong).

The workshop was a big success and introduced young students to a new instructor and a number of new techniques, helping to develop the art further in Capim Grosso.  And as for Besouro, we can vouch that he's a nice guy, even performing some chiropractic-like techniques to try to help an international volunteer's injured back.

AEC-TEA held its semester-closing cerimony in June, a chance for students to show what they learned over the course of the semester, receive their certificates, and say goodbye to international volunteers.  The event attracted a big crowd and including an opening performance by the circus students, songs in English and Spanish by language students, a presentation of photography, and various short scenes by the theater students.  Among the highlights was a well-received short video explaining the photography book project that AEC-TEA won and is working on this year, which includes interviews with photography students and performances by theater students.  The video is viewable on YouTube. 

Congratulations and thanks to all the AEC-TEA students for another memorable semester!

Capim Grosso celebrated not only its 25th birthday on May 9th, but also the region's many rich cultural practices.  The weekend saw the culmination of AEC-TEA's Microprojeto project, a government project that allowed us to study all the artistic manifestations we could find, including handicrafts, samba groups, theater projects, and more.  All told, young local volunteers interviewed over 150 local artists, and the information compiled is being turned into presentations and databases that will be made available online soon.

The celebration of these cultural practices was a great success, starting with a parade on Saturday that led theater and circus groups, capoeira groups, marching bands, cowboys, and a few donkeys from the main plaza in the center of town to the city council plaza, where the cultural festival was held.  There, local artisans set up shop to promote and sell local culinary options as well as paintings and handicrafts.  Various groups including samba and capoeira performed in the middle of the stands and up on the stage provided by the city.  Sunday saw a continuation of the celebration with various theater groups from Capim Grosso and surrounding cities performing.

The first semester of 2010 is proving to be a great semester for work in the community, and international and local volunteers are strengthening a number of local programs with their time and talents.  Programs benefitting from AEC-TEA volunteer service include a day care center for small children, a government program for at-risk youth, a center for adults with mental disabilities, and an agricultural cooperative.

The activities performed at these projects are varied and depend on the volunteers, but include everything from playing games to art and dance to cleaning and packaging agricultural products - especially the famous licuri nut, common in the region.  Best of all, good work done by our international volunteers has encourageed some local volunteers to get involved as well, and local musicians can now be found entertaining the disabled.