To come to know Brazil you have to understand the diversity of the Brazilian people, her culture, her African influence, her reality as a place colonized by the Portuguese, her religions.   The Voices Project is organizing a journey for twelve college students that will go beyond an encounter with the beautiful beaches and enchanting cityscapes of Rio de Janeiro, to provide them a close up look to the country’s reality – a context that juxtaposes an emerging global economic giant with great social inequalities. Brazil is a country in which thousands of citizens live on the margins, vulnerable and inhabiting the favelas (slums) that are mixed throughout the fabric of all her major cities.   And while the country’s majority is made up of the black population (53%), theirs is a reality is faced with problems and limitations in the areas of higher education, basic services including education, and health, which results in a lack of opportunities of all kinds.   The systemic racism and discrimination that exists in Brazil causes the young, majority black population to suffers one of the worst statistics of violent deaths at the hands of police authorities in the world.  

This Voices Project learning journey aims to introduce and raise the awareness of the students through the facilitation of encounters and dialogues with the people and culture, history, economy and sociology.   This learning journey will also be combined with relevant serving opportunities alongside other Brazllian students as well as theological discussions  with faith practitioners, activists and thought leaders.

The students will learn through conversations with church leaders, social activists, and educators who are coming together to reveal the multiple and complex realities of this country.   They will also visit vulnerable communities (favelas), social community transformation projects,  churches, universities and historical places including a Quilombo, the original refuges of escaped black slaves of African origen.   Quilombos are rural communities that are comprised of descendents of these groups who are subsistence farmers who maintain the language and culture of their unique historical roots.

Students will have the provoledge of  learning from the following leaders, theologians and activists:

Eduardo Nunes,  Sociologist, Historian and Theologian with a Masters and Doctorate in Political Science.   A Leader in World Vision Brazil and consultant to the World Bank as well as to the Human Social Indicators of the United Nations.

Clemir Fernandes,  Researcher from the Institute of Religious Studies (ISER) and coordinator of the Rio De Janiero Nucleus of the Fraternity of Latin American Theologians.   Theologian, Sociologist with a Doctorate in Social Sciences.

Ariovaldo Ramos,  President of the Board of Directors of World Vision Brazil and pastor. Known as a leader among progressive evangelicals and trained in Philosophy and Theology.   He forms part of the National Council of Food Security which is a part of the Presidential task forces in the country.

Marco Davi de Oliveira,  National Coordinator of the Black Evangelical Movement in Brazil.   Author of The Blackest Religion in Brazil, which studies the roots and reasons for the massive growth among Pentecostal Evangelical churches and diminishing participation in African Spiritual practices. He is a Philosopher, Theologian and has a Masters Degree in Religious Studies.   He is also a Baptist pastor.

Ras Andre Guimaraes,  Activist in the Black Evangelical Movement, student of Theology and Youth leader.

Ronilso Pacheco,  Student of Theology in the Catholic University of Rio de Janiero, Church relations director of Viva Rio and non for profit organization that works among youth on the issues of social justice, education, leadership and violence.

Henrique Viera,  Pastor, Sociologist and Historian.   Leader in the Socialist Freedom Party. (PSOL)