Brazil Floods - Volunteer Experience

A VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE BY STUDENTS FROM SAINT JOSEPH SCHOOL  IN PELOTAS

For 31 days, the state of Rio Grande do Sul, In south of Braszil.  was under the direct impact of torrential rains and river floods, affecting the people of Rio Grande do Sul in the most varied ways, destroying buildings, taking lives, shaking the psyche, and losses that can perhaps never be measured.

In the midst of all this chaos, volunteers began what is perhaps the largest humanitarian mobilization in the state's history, each one trying to do their best to care for others.

The city of Pelotas, where the São José Youth Group is located, was hit by the floods a few days after what happened in the Serra region, Taquari and greater Porto Alegre, days that gave us time to prepare for what was to come. So we mobilized, inviting friends and family to join in and somehow alleviate the pain of others, and live the teachings of Christ in love and charity. Over the course of a few days, we took part in campaigns, went to animal shelters, helped with groups in the city to sort clothes, food, hygiene items...

TOGETHER WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

We tried to do our part in the conditions we had at the time, and we found lessons that we will carry with us for life, having been part of this historic moment for the state of Rio Grande do Sul. We experienced a lot of emotions during our volunteer days, and the biggest lesson we took away from this moment, which applies to everyone, is that we must never give up, faith must always prevail in the hope of better days and in the relentless pursuit of building a better place to live together, seeing the unity of people, the pursuit of reconstruction, motivates us to believe that we can be better, we can make a difference together!

(Written by Gustavo Hafele Novack and Bernardo Borges, 3rd year high school students at Saint Joseph School  in Pelotas/RS and members of the school's Youth Group.)

CSJ PELOTAS SERVED AS A SHELTER FOR VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS FROM OTHER STATES

Faced with the climate tragedy in Rio Grande do Sul, with heavy rains and floods, on May 10 we received a request from the Fire Department to house groups of military firefighters from different Brazilian cities and states in the sports hall of Colégio São José, in Pelotas/RS. The teams of firefighters worked on rescue operations, removing people and monitoring areas that were already flooded and at risk in Pelotas, with a preventative focus.

The Emmaus Movement groups, as well as the school, mobilized to donate mattresses and blankets to the firefighters who stayed with us for a week.

With the motto "Every life matters", they were tireless in their humanitarian mission in our city, in the face of rising water levels in Lagoa dos Patos and the São Gonçalo Canal.

Sr. Kátia Rejane Sassi - Principal of  Saint Joseph School  in Pelotas/RS