Forms of Assistance

Volunteer Assistance

While time and assistance are needed, it often isn't as simple as it sounds. If you don't know Portuguese, or don't know it well enough to express yourself in Portuguese, that's a problem. Portuguese is a challenging language and English isn't as well known in many parts of Brazil as you might imagine.

Your safety is an issue, just as it would be if you were traveling to Los Angeles or New York or Miami without knowing your way around, and without already appreciating cultural differences between those communities and your own. Before you can be of any value to a struggling social program in Brazil, you must already have accounted for each of the following:

  • Your ability to communicate in Portuguese, or arrangements to travel with someone who can.
  • Your accommodations, food and transportation within the city or district you will be visiting.
  • Your own safety including addressing all the common sense issues, but also knowing something about the locale you will be visiting and it's culture. You must be responsible for your own safety.

Supporting Targeted Programs

Many programs in Brazil are chronically under severe financial pressure - Circo Picolino for example was serving only 180 favela children when I arrived in the summer of 2005, compared with 450 the year before because private or corporate sponsorships, like one from the state untility company COELBA, are restricted to activities like putting on Spectaculars or providing training for professional artist and/or instructor development.

The importance of programs we serve is evidenced in places like the formerly violent community of Saramandaia where alumni of Axé and Picolino are establishing new programs to transform the lives of yet more children living on the margins of society. These programs need to secure additional sources of support and we encourage you to donate.

Donating to Rhythm of Hope

The simplest way to donate is to make your donation through the Click and Pledge option below. If you wish to donate by check, please mail to the address below. In any case, you may be sure of our immense gratitude for your willingness to help us help others to construct a better world.

Although there are never guarantees with respect to how long it takes for the paperwork to be processed and an application approved it is almost certain we will be 501c3 well before the end of 2008. If you have any concerns, however, we can accept checks made out to "Dreams Can Be Foundation for Rhythm of Hope." DCBF is already a registered 501c3 organization and is willing to accept donations for us - those donations however can only be released for use when we become 501c3.

If you wish to specify how the donation is to be used (and we would be happy to discuss that with you) contact Phillip at phillip@rhythmofhope.org before proceeding.

Donate Now - Click below for a secure internet donation thru PayPal:

 

                                                 
or for a more traditional method, please make your check out to "Rhythm of Hope" and mail to:

Rhythm of Hope
659 Roxboro Court

Lawrenceville, GA 30044

Rhythm of Hope responds to all inquiries, and - owing to the nature of our role - inquiries often generates a fair amount of work. But beyond the labor, which is uncompensated, we have hardware, software, material and other administrative expenses such as computers, software programs, server space, postage, phone expenses, the cost of printed materials that are disseminated at public events and so on. Your help is greatly appreciated and keeps us going!

Indirect Financial Support

Tourist dollars are a major source of economic development in Salvador da Bahia, which is a perfect example of something good waiting to happen. Bahia is the true cradle of African-Brazilian culture and an oasis of preserved culture in the African diaspora. African-Americans today have more disposable income than ever before, and many of them are seeking to reconnect with their African heritage. There are few better places for doing so. Even Africans have been known to make pilgrimage there to rediscover lost traditions. Of whatever descent you are, spending your way through Brazil is a worthwhile way to contribute, since it helps to fuel economic development.

Raising Awareness

Raising awareness is something everyone can do yet most people don't take the time contribute in this way, perhaps not realizing how simple it is or how helpful it is. You can help to create greater awareness of existing programs like Dida and Ile Aiye, of resources like this website, and even of the region in general. This can be done through any medium: word-of-mouth, newspaper articles, magazine articles, websites, documentaries, even art and music projects. Put the domino effect in action.

Other Forms of Assistance

Opportunities to help are as varied as the people who have an interest in helping. A Swiss dentist established a 'dental clinics on wheels' program in which dentists travel from favela to favela providing a much-needed service to the poor. One man's desire to bridge the digital divide in Rio has grown into a major program that refurbishes donated used computers. With those computers, he has established Internet Cafes throughout Brazil that offer access to people who would otherwise not have it. Even excess stock of simple items like paper and pencils can fill a critical need.

If you have a serious idea and will reliably follow through on your commitments, we'd be happy to discuss it with you.