Posts tagged with "children"

This week is Dia das Crianças, Children’s Day, on Wednesday! If you have any Brazilian friends on Facebook, you’ve probably seen tons of profile pictures turned to cartoon characters in honor of the day and causes against violence against children. It’s a holiday that’s taken very seriously in Brazil where children are given gifts and, being on the same day as Dia de Nossa Senhora Aparecida, our patron saint, it’s a national holiday!

To celebrate Dia das Crianças, I’ve decided to post a traditional children’s song with lyrics for you to teach the little ones in your life! :-)

YouTube Preview Image

Se a Rua Fosse Minha - If the Street Was Mine

Se essa rua se essa rua fosse minha 
If this street, if this street was mine
Eu mandava eu mandava ladrilhar 
I would order, I would order that it be tiled
Com pedrinhas com pedrinhas de brilhantes 
With pebbles, with pebbles of diamond
Para o meu para o meu amor passar 
For my love, for my love to pass
Nesta rua nesta rua tem um bosque 
On this street, on this street there’s a forest
Que se chama que se chama solidão 
That is called, that is called loneliness
Dentro dele dentro dele mora um anjo 
Inside it, inside it lives an angel
Que roubou que roubou meu coração 
Who has stolen, who has stolen my heart
Se roubei se roubei teu coração 
If I’ve stolen, if I’ve stolen your heart
Tu roubaste tu roubaste o meu também 
You have stolen, you have stolen mine as well
Se roubei se roubei teu coração 
If I’ve stolen, if I’ve stolen your heart
É porque, só porque te quero bem.
It’s because, just because I wish you well.

Today, we’re starting a new series where we look at grassroots NGOs operating in Brazil.

The Projeto Beija-Flor, or the Hummingbird Project, is a part of the Children at Risk Foundation, created by Gregory Smith in 1993 in São Paulo. The purpose of the organization is to defend street children’s rights, to give street children an education and provide solutions for children at risk. After founding the Street Migration Prevention Program, Smith expanded the program into the Hummingbird Arts & Cultural Activity Center, which now serves 600 children. In 2007, a second NGO was established, the Hummingbird Cultural Network, to create a group of community centers for homeless youth.

The Beija-Flor Project offers many programs for the children involved, including dance, music and art classes, and is best known for its capoeira courses and drum bands. There is also academic support, academic scholarships, and technology courses. This year, the project will also offer programs to teach children about health, the environment, nutrition, social communication and income generation.

For more information and to see how to help, see:

Back to the Top