Two Brothers Foundation / Instituto dois Irmãos

KU-2bros Spring Fundraiser

Ku-2bros, a student organization at the University of Kansas in the United States, held a bossa nova and Brazilian dance party Friday April 30th as a fundraiser in support of educational opportunities offered by  2bros/i2i in Rocinha. The event, which featured recoiding artists Leala Cyr and Ricardo Vogt, raised $1008. It was the sixth fundraiser Ricardo Vogt has done for 2bros/i2i. Ricardo, who is the guitar player of the Esperanza Spalding Quartet, has appeared on David Letterman and Jimmy Kimmel and played at Obama’s Nobel Prize ceremony. For his musical partner and wife, Leala Cyr, it was her second fundraiser for 2bros/i2i. The event was held at Cielito Lindo Restaurant and bar, in downtown Lawrence, Kansas, and was attended by nearly 200 people. A small group of local musicians (María Elena, Hannah, Jim and me) opened the party with a short set of Mexican and Brazilian songs. Ricardo and Leala also conducted a Brazilian guitar workshop at KU, performed at a free daytime concert at KU and played in several classes. Other academic units and departments at KU that collaborated in bringing Ricardo and Leala to town were: the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the Center for International Business Education and Research (CIBER), the Coca Cola Endowment at KU, the Brazilian Students Association (BRASA), the School of Music and the Ellsworth Hall Faculty Partner (KU Housing). (See photos above =D)

Paul Sneed

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Thanks to Patricia!

Patricia Hosken, our psycologist, first heard about us through her boxing trainer here in Celeiro do Boxe, Rocinha.   Today, Patricia works directly with the student and the volunteers. She has been coming twice a week with the institute for the past 6 months and we have seen some big changes. Her work is important because she works with the problems of each student  individually. This helps us learn about each student to better understand and help with their progress.

With the help of Patricia, one student who had problems in school.. now loves school and is considered by her teachers as one of the best students in her class.

Working with a psycologist has been something very hard to find that we have always wanted. Thanks to her help we have the chance to create a more complete program that includes help for kids as well as their families.

Big Thanks to Patricia!

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i2i Cultural Exchange with Sendai, Japan

One of our cinema class activities has been to create a virtual cultural exchange through video clips with kids in Sendai, Japan with the help of  former volunteer, Alexis Torres.

The clips give the kids a chance to express their ideas of Brazilian culture  and show other kids from other parts of the world what it is like for them living in Rio. Through the exchange with the kids in Japan, our kids are able to learn not only about Japanese culture, but also identify the special things that make up their own culture.

Here are 2 of the clips…

SUNDAY MARKET IN ROCINHA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUA2_2SzdWE

SAMBA CULTURE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=utVTmqKt3Pc

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Our Cinema Students Make CNN News!

Our former volunteer from UC Santa Barbara, Drew, spent his time at i2i helping develop our cinema program and putting together a documentary with interviews of students, volunteers & staff. He introduced a new type of camera into the cinema class and also brought a mixer that he used to show the kids how to make videos with images, pictures and music.

The documentary has been very important for the kids and has served as a way for them to tell their individual stories to the rest of the world.

Drew helped with getting two of our students,Aline Andrade Martins (reporter) and Ana Luiza Bezerra (recorder), on CNN news with their video clip on what they consider the most interesting place in their neighborhood, Salon Beleza.

Stay tuned to future clips of his documentary!

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-341529

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NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO Seeks i2i’s Help

NPR RADIO decided to explore the world of Baile Funk and ask our students and volunteers to answer a couple questions about what Baile Funk means to them.

www.npr.org/NPRs Interview Questions…

1. Do you think that Funk is an important type of music nowadays? Why  or why not? Why do you go to bailes?

2. What does it call your atention in the Funk music? Can you describe the sound?

3. Can you tell an experience that was positive in a baile funk? An unpleasant one?

4. How women are treated in the world of funk Carioca?

5. What sort of ideas does Funk express? What value has the Funk to the community of Rocinha?

Some of our answers…

Michele (Student, 23)

• Eu não gosto de bailes funk atualmente e nem de funk. Mas eu acho que o funk “para outras pessoas” e importante. No começo o funk era muito bom, mas ao longo do tempo foi ficando sujo e depravado. Mas ele faz parte da cultura carioca e isso o torna importante.
• Raramente o funk me chama a atenção para coisas boas, so negativos, por causa dos palavrões e sexo.
• Sim , eu não acho que o baile seja uma bom lugar, já estive em muitos quando era imatura. Já vi brigas e etc.
• Eu não tenho opinião formada de como tratar ninguém. Trato todos iguais, independente de cor, sexo e religião.
• O funk tem um valor imenso dentro da comunidade. Por que ele nasceu aqui, usado como liberdade de expressão, mas hoje ele perdeu o rumo e o respeito.

Igor (Student, 17)

• O funk e uma musica importante porque e a cultura da favela, existem vários tipos de funk. O da apologia ao crime, o do homem ou mulher apaixonado e também o funk que expressa o cotidiano.
• Para ver as garotas e dançar com elas.
• A maneira como ela e tocada no tom, rápido e devagar e o som vai se misturando com vários elementos.
• Positiva – quando tem o posse ensaiado. Negativa – quando acontece brigas.
• De uma forma vulgar ou gentil isso vai de acordo com o cantor e o tipo de funk.

Alain (Volunteer, 27)

• For favelados who at times are supressed and discarted as second class citizens, baile funk serves as a voice, a distinguishable sound that this struggling populous can call their own.
• This sound, originally derived from old school hip-hop such a 2 live crew has morphed into a hard beat with almost comedic overtunes.
• Like most music, baile funk brings people together. Whether it be in the physical sense such as Funk parties, or on a spiritual level where the people all share the same Love for this language of music.
• From the outside looking it seems that the women of Funk are only treated like sexual objects, there is some truth to that. But there is also a sense of Power among Funk-women, especially at baile funk parties, where they sexy to have control in the very sexual funk dance. Among young impressionable women, it can, in my opinion help advance their sexuality without them even being aware. This has obvious repercussions.

Natasha Muntoni (Volunteer, 25, Rocinha resident)

• I think that baile funk represents a new generation of people. I don’t believe it is important as it does nor teach or educate the listener, however I do believe it is enjoyable and good fun. I go to baile funk because it is an experience I can not find in my country. I find it expressive and a form of release however as a perminent resident. I don’t think my interest would remain… Perhaps this is to do with my age.
• I would describe baile funk as a group of móbile phones going off. Ring tones that would normally annoy me together with a heavy bass line. I particularly like the song that colaborates with the panther tune.
• I have not experienced any bad times during a baile funk. I always have fun and everyone I introduce it to loves it. One bad thing is sometimes its a little too loud! (speakers)
• Women are represented as solely sex objects in baile funk music however I have yet to witness or experience a girl being disrespected at a baile funk party.the women always have the right to accept a man’s advance or reject it.
• Funk has little to offer moralistically to the community. I think B. Funk should not be taken on board literally however with young children/ teens attending baile funk that’s impossible to change this. Perhaps an age could be put in place 17 years and above they can attend. I wouldn’t  want my teenage daughter to attend.

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A New Semester Begins!

We started a new semester of classes this week!

This year we are offering workshops in workmanship, dancing, photography, book-writing and advancing a new Spanish language curriculum.

Last year we had 26 volunteers at the end of the semesters. We extend BIG THANK YOUS to each of them as well as those who have decided to stay on for longer and we welcome the NEW volunteers from PUC aboard!

We are super excited about the new cultural activities we are planning to get the kids out of the classroom and into the city of RIO.

We are expanding also expanding our local network & this means there are many opportunities for people to get involved and learn more about the institute, Rocinha and what we are all about.

Final Thanks & we are looking forward to 2010!!

BEIJOS!

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Our Facebook Page is Updated & Ready for YOU!

We are constantly updating our facebook page with photos, videos, and testimonies from volunteers and students and we want you to check it out!

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i2i Students granted two scholarships in dance academy

Twelve year olds, Victoria Pedro  and Karolina Martins have been granted scholarships by the dance academy Arte Movimento in São Conrado one year after participating in dance classes with the institute. Their dancing careers started with a professional dancer from San Francisco named Nancy who had a dance group of 11 girls.  Later, they moved to Bollywood dancing with another Austrailian volunteer and then they joined the break dancing class with volunteer Marina. They moved from break dancing to salsa dancing with volunteer Lisette and they spent the  following four months dancing salsa, meringue, raggaeton and rhumba to perform for i2i’s annual christmas party.

After their performance at the christmas party, our psycologist Patricia got in touch with the Arte Movimento academy and told them about the girls. The academy showed interest in meeting the girls and weeks later granted them scholarships that allow them to participate in their “street dancing” classes twice a week.

Check out their break dancing performance on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ1QY3qC278

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Students of i2i are on train to the Giffoni Film Festival in Italy!

This July,  three of our students have been given the opportunity to be a part of the 2,000 young children that will participate in the 39th Annual Giffoni Film Festival, held every year in Naples, Italy. Thanks to former volunteer Ana Dillon, who  has spent a significant time with us teaching cinema to the kids, the film festival has granted the students free flights, accomodation and meals to their 39th annual celebration.

The Festival was founded by Claudio Gubitosi who wanted to create a space for youth to experience the world of film. What started as an opportunity to highlight films geered toward children has turned into a festival with films viewed by the kids and judged by the kids. Our student will be participating in their respective levels deciding on the winners to the festival.

Two Brothers has begun brainstorming ideas for fundraising projects that will go toward raising the money needed to get the kids their passports and visas in time for the festival. So far, there have been talks of a t-shirt fundraiser and a “stop-light” themed party to help with the necessary funding so hold tight… more information to follow!

http://www.giffoniff.it/

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Visit to the USS Carl Vinson

February 28th marks the instutute’s visit with USS Carl Vinson during Brazil’s part of Southern Seas 2010. During the visit, different members including Chief Aviation Maintenance Administration, Sonya Hogan, and Chief Boatswain’s Mate, Anna Brooks spoke with 8 young girls from the institute about their lives in the Navy and the obstacles  and accomplishments they face in their careers.

While taking many photographs, the girls were given a tour of different shipboard spaces on the port. During the tours, the Chiefs shared special words of encouragement they always tell to their  beginning sailors. “Whatever it is you want in life- if you speak it into existence, then it will be.”

Aside from showing a personal side to the U.S. military, the opportunity for these young women to observe and learn about females with immense responsibility who hold positions of authority will prove to be an invaluable experience in motivating these 8 girls to “speak

their own ambitions into existance.”

http://www.navy.mil/search/print.asp?story_id=51680&VIRIN=82471&imagetype=1&page=1

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