CUFA USA's Los Angeles team spent an afternoon with the kids from Venice B-ball camp today. The b-ball camp focuses on teaching street basketball fundamentals and techniques to kids ages 5-12 years old, and although 120 kids were present, it was so fun and so NOISY that it sure felt like we had double the amount of kids in the gym!
It is always incredible to be reminded just how important the relationship the coaches share with the campers is and how these role models can really bring joy and hope to them. We successfully fulfilled our primary goal to use activities such as sports as a tool both to relate to and reach the kids, get to know them and make sure that we see a smile on each and every child's face.
Jay Boogie is the man behind the smiles, CUFA USA's motivational speaker, mentor and ALL STAR player from the world famous HOOPTAINERS.
The fact that the man has mad game is notable within seconds after the ball reaches his hands, he can sport so many tricks in a 20 second time frame that anyone watching is left without words, and not to mention dizzy from just watching his ball disappearance tricks!!!
What many might not know is that the South Central LA native has his hear set on giving back, knowing the difficulties associated with growing up in a poor community inspires him to reach out and make a difference.
And that wrapped up a day filled with new friendships, big smiles and renewed self-esteem!
CUFA, Central Union of the Slums invites all residents of The City of God, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, as in the prior elections, to welcome the 2010 Presidential Candidates. This is a time where the community will hear each party's proposal and have an opportunity to address and discuss their social problems as well as have a chance to come up with their own counter-proposals.
It is important to highlight that CUFA exercises this initiative for more than 15 years. It is in this same " Favela", portuguese word meaning Slum, that we have received many other Candidates, such as Geraldo Alckmin, Fernando Gabeira, Eduardo Paes, Jandira Feghali, Cesar Maia and even current Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva among others that at the time pleaded for their space within the world of politics. With that being said, CUFA invites the candidates for a democratic gathering of which the purpose concentrates on narrowing the gap of the relationship between the Rio de Janeiro Favela communities and the Presidential Candidates of Brazil. The gathering will take place at CUFA's City of God Branch located at: rua José Arimatéia, nº 90.
So far the following candidates have already confirmed their attendance, Marina Silva and Dilma Roussef, whose parties did not hesistate to publicize their appearance, also Plínio Sampaio. Both Marina Silva and Dilma Roussef openly notified through their official twitters that they will be present at the City of God.
Candidates invited:
Plínio Arruda Sampaio (confirmed), Marina Silva (confirmed), Dilma Roussef (confirmed), and José Serra ( awaiting confirmation).
Victims of the Rio de Janeiro Floods and mudslides receive cement donation
CUFA, Central Union of the Slums of Rio de Janeiro, in partnership with the State of Rio de Janeiro, participated this Wednesday July 7, 2010 in a event at a Rio neighborhood school Joao Ayres Saldanha, where twelve tons of cement was given to the families affected by the floods and mudslides that occured earlier this year. 70 families were iniatially registered to receive the help, but the donations went beyong expectation and aid reached more than 150 families with each family receiving 120 kilos. The figures were recorded at the time of the event.
Present at the event was Carolina Figuereido of Chrevron, the company donating the cement, Marina Pombo from Firjan the company mediating the donation, and Allen Borges the Superintendent of Youth Public Policies, representating the Government of Rio. Also there were Nega Gizza and MV Bill along with the reperesentatives of CUFA.
According to Chevron's Social public relations coordinator, Carolina Figueredo, CUFA had an important role in the intermediation, serving as a fundamental partner in the area of registering the families in need, " Without CUFA, we would not have been able to reach these families that needed help." concluded Carolina, adding that she hopes that the cement provided simbolizes hope, and a new beginning for the families.
Firjan- Federation of the Industries of the state of Rio de Janeiro, was represented by the coordinator of social relations Mariana Pombo who stated " Firjan's role here is to promote and build an awareness for the industries of Rio de Janeiro to create programs and social actions within the state." MV Bill and Nega Gizza spoke about the importance of the cement donation being more than an act, but rather a solution,one more way to ease the suffering of the families that were victims to the floods." The government representative, Allen Borges said that " this is not just a cement donation, it represents hope." One of the recepients of the aide, Ronald Oliveira, shared that he received 3 bags of cement, a very gratifying help for someone who was left with nothing.
This was another event that showed the importance and power of CUFA's mobilization within the society, reiterating our role and commitment to the society to provide citizenship, education, culture and sports to the less fortunate.
By: Cristiana Richard Photos: Luciano Gomes Translation: CUFA USA
Last Saturday May 26th, The LIIBRA European Circuit hosted a street basketball tournament in the city of Vienna, Austria. More than 200 people gathered to watch the event that had the German team as the big winner. In second place was the Austrian team, and the kings of the alpahalts of Italy took home the third spot.
The European Circuit is a preparation for the LIIBRA Worldwide Competition that takes place each year in Brazil, this year from December 2nd-12th in the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
Stay tuned to the LIIBRA site and check out what is going down in streetball around the world!!!
The tournament began....The battle for the ball is between two players " Baixo", ( For the Blue team jumps Mambro) and the fist meet starts.
The quartet see the court, beyond the legendary captain Puty, Penny e Alby.
Later, at the warm-ups the Blue team heads on. The first meet is about to begin and the try outs of the team's new long distance shots!
(Courtesy of Daniele Magni- CUFA ITALY Coordinator)
The Social Forum 2010 was held in Detroit, Michingan from June 22nd through the 26th and CUFA USA was there, in one of the poorest cities within the USA, not just to experience this very positive event, but also to contribute with ideas and able hands in order to help this project get a step closer to its ultimate goal.
The purpose of the Forum was not only promote a conference but to serve as movement building process giving opportunity and space for the people to come up with solutions to the economic, social and ecological crisis.
The USSF was an important step in our struggle to build a powerful multi-racial, multisectoral, inter-generational, diverse, inclusive internationalist movement that can change history. “Detroit is ground zero for the economic crisis facing millions of people, not only in Michigan, but across the nation,” says Maureen Taylor, a US Social Forum staff organizer and chair of the Michigan Welfare Rights Organization (MWRO).
“There’s nothing better than the opportunity of seeing more than twenty thousand people (20,000) united in a place to talk about realities and solutions to the world’s crisis, that’s amazing,” Says Felipe Gomes who has been representing CUFA USA in the event.
Detroit is a spectacular example of devastation, poverty, and economic problems. A city that shows everyone a beautiful downtown with huge buildings and a peaceful lake where you can see Canada, but directly across on the other side is a city which is becoming a ghost town because it has been forgotten by the ones who should really should care for it, the Government of the Unites States of America. But at the same time is also a wonderful example of the power of community. Communities like Georgia Street, which in the middle of the mass is surviving from their own community garden, education, help from their association and most importantantly their honest will to make it better and never give up!
That’s how Detroit still manages to keep up the rest of what was one day considered a good place to live. Because all of this situation, Detroit City was one of the biggest issues and examples within the US Social Forum 2010.
Aspects like recycle, community service, economy, social movements, going green, urbanism, security, justice were examples brought to table and discussed in the USSF. It gave an opportunity for everyone in the workshops, in the meetings, even in the corridors to show the realities that they experieced around the world, allowing for new solutions that will prepare for the new challegenges that coming up. A gigantic exchange of experiences.
CUFA USA was represented by Felipe Gomes sharing its powerful name through logo display and its purpose with all the atendees and organizations present at the in the USSF. It was a good opportunity to demonstrate that we are already in the US and that we intend to do something really helpful and important for the American people. It was also a great opportunity to meet people and develop strong partnerships. There’s no better place to do something like this that at a Social Forum. “It is wonderful that people were coming and asking me about CUFA and about our activities, demonstrating open minds and without any reservations talking about a better world! That’s the feeling that we get when we really care of our people!” says Felipe Gomes.
CUFA USA - Michigan hosted a Community Poetry Workshop at a public city school with renowned poet, dramatist and film maker Kareemah El Amim. El Amin is a very influential name in the field of social projects linked to poetry, art and music.
This was an excellent opportunity to introduce CUFA, not only to Kareemah, but also to the community in general allowing a space for development of new and bigger contacts.
We were invited by Kareemah to attend a poetry audition taking place next week, where we will give continuity to the conversations we began today where she demonstrated much motivation and affirmed that it will be a great pleasure to contribute to the promotion of other activities along with CUFA USA.
This is another opportunity facilitating creative development and expression for the youth of the United States of America, with a foundation built of not just amazing teamwork between CUFA USA and dedicated Artists such as Kareemah, but more importantly with the mission to open up a window of hope for youth of less fortunate communities to naturally develop their creativity and consequently hope and belief that “You CAN do anything you set your mind too.”
Yesterday, CUFA USA's Los Angeles branch hosted CUFA USA’s 1st Annual Favela Fundraiser , it was a great event for families of all ages, where the communities came together to enjoy live music, CAPOcufa, Pagode de Mesa with Renato Cupim from Sambajah, Soccer Clinic for kids with Coach Luis Dos Santos, B-ball fun
with Jay “Boogie“ from the Hooptainers Basketball Team, and LIVE Graffiti Art Show with guest artist Ray Robledo,
We'd like to thank everyone who participated. Together We Just Made History!
The fact that the man has mad game is notable within seconds after the ball reaches his hands, he can sport so many tricks in a 20 second time frame that anyone watching is left without words, and not to mention dizzy from just watching his ball disappearance tricks!!!
