At last weekend’s Forest Green Rovers match we welcomed our friends from the Brazilian charity, Onda Solidaria, who added some colour as they collected around SJP.
They are the Brazilian partner to Children’s Aid, who we have been involved with ever since 2004, when their man, Ricardo Calcado, was instrumental in securing the attendance of the Brazilian Masters, including the likes of Dunga and Careca, here at SJP for a match to celebrate our centenary.
Ricardo was also a key influence when we visited Brazil in 2014 to recreate the historic match in Rio de Janeiro in 1914, when Exeter City provided the first ever opposition for the Brazilian national team. On that more recent trip, the club was delighted that we were able to visit Vila dos Sonhos, an Eco Social Centre in the hills a few hours out of Rio.
The players learnt how, thanks to the work on Onda Solidaria, the village had literally been dug out of the hillside and got to meet the local youngsters and, of course, have a kick around with them!
Last Saturday, Exeter City fans’ kind generosity raised £478.92 and the charity ask us to thank you all for this.
There is also another way you can spread some kindness and assist Onda Solidaria and Children’s Aid with their work in Brazilian low income communities. Sport, and football in particular of course in Brazil, is a great way to encourage participation and discipline, as well as being great fun, and the project they have running at the moment is to provide boots for boys and girls.
All it would cost is ÂŁ20 to buy a pair of boots for a youngster but any donation would be most welcome.
If you are able to donate then the account details to use are:
- Account Name: The Officials, Childrensaid.
- Sort Code: 20-60-88
- Account: 93896056
When you do donate, please also contact Vera Hallum (who is Ricardo’s mum!) at veraqueiroz@hotmail.com so that she has your contact details and can feedback a photo from Brazil of a youngster sporting their new boots.
Vera is also happy to be contacted on WhatsApp at 07955 005262 and this is actually an easy way to pass on a photo via that medium.
There is a big Christmas party in Brazil and Vera would love to be able to send back lots of photos to us in Exeter so please help!
For more information about the charity, please visit www.ondasolidaria.org