Something happens to many people around adolescence and during early adulthood. We would often say that live “hardens” us. Experiences prove that life isn’t always easy, it isn’t always fun and it definitely isn’t always fair. But, the bliss of being a child is the innocence that helps them remain blinded to the harshness of life. And, their joy, their smiles and their laughter is what reminds the rest of us that our troubles sometimes aren’t as serious as we make them seem.
This past weekend I was blessed to be surrounded by nearly 40 children and young adolescents as we began a new English class in the rural (as in “no running water” rural) community of Boa Vista. These students gather in small groups each Saturday at 8 a.m. to study various subjects with university students- math, science Portuguese. They flock to EPC Boa Vista in groups knowing that this extra opportunity to study is going to give them a “leg up” in 5-10 years when they are trying to enter the university. And, the university students faithfully return to their community to continue the cycle of education and empowerment.
Then, at 9 a.m. everyone walked 10 minutes down the dirt road to the newly built Centro de Inclusão Digital, a beautiful building with a computer lab (internet to come), classroom and library, which the community of Boa Vista earned from the Federal government. There we all joined for English class. The energy and excited chatter of the children helped to keep the class lively and interactive. And, their enthusiasm for learning helped me to relax for a moment and forget the harshness of rural life that engulfs so many. It is their liveliness that gives hope for the future of the rural poor communities and reminds me why I have chosen to spend my time in Brasil working alongside the PRECE movement.
This past weekend I was blessed to be surrounded by nearly 40 children and young adolescents as we began a new English class in the rural (as in “no running water” rural) community of Boa Vista. These students gather in small groups each Saturday at 8 a.m. to study various subjects with university students- math, science Portuguese. They flock to EPC Boa Vista in groups knowing that this extra opportunity to study is going to give them a “leg up” in 5-10 years when they are trying to enter the university. And, the university students faithfully return to their community to continue the cycle of education and empowerment.
Then, at 9 a.m. everyone walked 10 minutes down the dirt road to the newly built Centro de Inclusão Digital, a beautiful building with a computer lab (internet to come), classroom and library, which the community of Boa Vista earned from the Federal government. There we all joined for English class. The energy and excited chatter of the children helped to keep the class lively and interactive. And, their enthusiasm for learning helped me to relax for a moment and forget the harshness of rural life that engulfs so many. It is their liveliness that gives hope for the future of the rural poor communities and reminds me why I have chosen to spend my time in Brasil working alongside the PRECE movement. 
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