Joao Turquino Community Center

Joao Turquino Community Center

We had a wonderful visit with Jorge de Melo Maura and his beautiful wife Lu at the Joao Turquino community center.  Jorge is an architect and teaches at the university in Londrina.  Lu is a popular actress in Brazil, now spending most of her time raising their son Natan.  Jorge and Lu have been friends of Beyond Our Borders for several years, and we are impressed with their commitment to the people of the Joao Turquino favela.  The community center is located in the favela on the west side of Londrina.  The property for the community center was purchased by the Catuai Baptist Church, and Jorge and Lu have overseen the renovation of the house and have established Christian based programs for the local residents.

 Gail, Rosalee, Lu, and Myron at the kitchen

Room for classes

The community center is used daily.  There are classes for local women to help them learn trades, such as sewing and manicuring.  There are Bible studies and activities for small children.  A part time volunteer with musical training leads a girls' choir.  All of these activities are provided to help the women and children of the favela have a safe haven where they can learn, have fun, and be exposed to God's teachings.

Jorge and Lu have begun a new project to renovate the homes of some of the favela residents.  Many of the families are single mothers with one or more children, living in very run-down housing.  Jorge and Lu selected one of these single mothers and have begun working on her house.  The house was in such bad shape, that the interior rooms flooded with each rain, and the renovation includes both foundation and roof repairs.  Look at the pictures below.  Even after the renovations, these houses are far below the standards that we consider livable.  Yet when we met this young mother, she was thrilled with her home and so thankful for the help she had received to make her home safer.                                                                                                                                        

Renovated boy's room

Typical house in Joao Turquino favela

We in the U.S. are so fortunate.  God has blessed us with nice homes, safety, lots of food, availability of medical care, and so much more that we assume will be here every day.  Our friends in Brazil have so much less, and there are many ways that we can help.  Is God touching your heart to help?