Paracatu

(Ilse writing in the van to Januaria)

Tuesday morning we said goodbye to our lovely host families in Joao Pinheiro. The drive to Paracatu took about 4 hours. We arrived there around noon. We met our new host families, dropped our suitcases at their houses and immediately visited a cooperative bank called CREDIPARNOR. The director Darcy da Silva Neiva Filho welcomed us and explained the internal organisation structure. This time we got our drinks (suco, coffee) and food (pao de queozo) in advance. ;-) After the visit we ate at the restaurant and got a rest.
In the afternoon we visited the COOPERVAP. A dairy factory where they make cheese, wrap milk and yoghurt. We saw the production of different kinds of cheese.
In the evening we had a wonderful BBQ with life Brazilian music at the house of the local Rotary coordinator Geraldo Janio. The music was very good and the food delicious.

The next day we ate breakfast at a beautiful hotel, Pousada da Vila. A completely renovated building with a wonderful garden. Then we went to Kinross, a gold mine. This plant is a Canadian company and gives employability to hundreds of people in the neighborhood. I had a meeting with the HR director which learned me that there is no much difference in the structure and way of working with people, dealing with careers between Kinross and the american company Hudson where I work.
After lunch at the plant we went to Conscienciarte Foundation (an organisation recognised and supported by UNESCO with plants over all Brasil) and saw how happy children are when they are at the centre after school. It keeps them away from the streets and criminality. At the time we arrived they were watching a movie of a young African boy who takes care of his community. After the film the children talk about the content and learn. In Brasil these days there are a lot of actions through the country to make people aware of their African roots and to make them conscience to accept and respect this. During our meeting at the headquarters of the Foundation we had an interesting discussion about this topic and racisme. They showed us an African dance with African drums. Gilles plaid with the drummers and I danced with the 3 dance ladies. Wonderful feeling !
In the centre worked a few belgians who were meaningfull for the foundation.
At night we had a good presentation. Introduced by a Capoeira band. Britt joined them !

On Thursday after breakfast we went to Brasilia to have a short visit of Brasil's capital. The Rotary Gouvernor welcomed us at the parlement. He showed us the building. After lunch he explained us how Brailia is structured and built. We drove along the main road surrounded by buildings of the architect Niemeyer and stopped at the cathedral and museum of contemporary art. There was an exhibition on AFRO BRASIL. It contained even a photo of the African museum in Tervure - Belgium.
At night we ate fish at the Bar do Joquei.