What made today special was we all got to visit live projects in the Brazilian Favelas. These visits were truly remarkable and intensely amazing; however I must say that we weren’t allowed to take pictures due to security issues regarding walking around the favelas.

I did however mange to take some sneaky shots and some limited video footage actually deep into a fevela. The trip was inspirational and I learnt alot and confirmed my initial ideas of what the favelas would be like. My high light was of the visit was going to a small high school class and having the chance to meet young favela residences.

After the day of visits we all gave presentations on the different projects we visited, this was very useful as it help us understand the visits better and put it into worlds that we could continue to use during one of our individual talks in our home countries.

After a well needed dinner, we all create a ‘secret’ party where we danced through the night in a number of styles.

Every second counts we must not forget this……

Then the days activities began. We sat down to decide on the issues which we de

emed most important across the region which were most accessible through youth activism. Later, Professor Jacques Macovitch from the University of Sao Paulo enlightened the group with a lecture on how to bridge the gap between the issues on the ground and the bigger regional picture.

And then the fun began. The day’s events were so hectic that the night’s feature presentation, a documentary entitled, “5 x Favela” directed by local residents, was a real breather for the eager participants. The Director’s which visited us were questioned until well after 10 p.m.

However, the most entertaining aspect of the day was the performance of several popular rock numbers by a visiting band.  They promised to be back… I don’t know that they will be, afterall we partied with them until well into 1 a.m.

(Image above me with two of the directors of 5x Favelas with my short film poster signed)

Love from Teresopolis,

-xoxo.

This is going to be the base for the Global Change Makers for the duration of the LACYS. The setting couldn’t of been more ideal, with it being set within its own grounds, vast spaces to explore and great conference and training facilities.

The first day of the summit was an interesting one, with games such as activism speed dating, who would ever though that this would be so exhausting (I think I nearly lost my voice). We also learnt about all the amazing CAPs, RAPs etc project structures giving us food for thought to start our own projects within our local communities or internationally with other change makers.

The food is stunning with large quantities given to us constantly throughout the day making us all start to put on a little weight!

We also started working on little drama performance pieces that explain certain issues, these are called 5min sketches, our teams is looking good however we have yet to do a rehearsal.

We ended the day with a great performance in Capoeire, it was really good, not the wannabe stuff you see in England this was real Brazilian vibes! Baile Funk Beats Acoustically Amazing! Everbody got stuck in during the end into a giant mashup was excellent.

Amazing First day, really looking forward to the days to come.

Sadiq Miah

I am officially in Rio, Brazil!

I am writing this update as I sit in the lounge of our hotel, its late I’ve been awake now for almost 50hrs yet I am still willing to fill you avid readers in on the happenings at the LACYS!

We arrive in Sao Paulo and took a connection to Rio where we were taken on an amazing bus ride through amazing areas of Rio, truly stunning taken nearly 100 pics purely on this bus ride.

We arrived at the Hotel and met the fellow Global Change Makers from across the world very exciting, we got acquainted and some of us headed to Copacabana Beach! Was in truly stunning was real Brazil, felt part of the amazing vibe and didn’t feel at all like a tourist.

The evening was amazing too meeting other change makers and the British Council coordinators was enlightening and I am truly looking to the week to come.

We are fast approaching the first Latin American Youth Summit 2010, as a participant selected from the UK I leave for Rio, Brazil this Saturday! Below is a quick introduction video to this site and me!

Very excited and looking forward to meeting like minded fellow global change makers! I have created this site where I hope will be able a hub of information, short films and progress made at the summit to update the participants that haven’t been selected in order to keep track of what is happening.

I already have the support of fellow participating Global Changemakers and a few peer facilitators so expect to see then in the next few updates!

The preliminary programme of events sounds stunning; I will update this site on these as they happen. As a film maker one of the highlights that I can’t wait for is meeting the directors of 5x Favelas!

To keep up with news as it happens during the event follow me on twitter: @geekstars

Follow the progress of the Latin America Youth Summit with my Podcast that I will be creating during the event.

My Audioboo Channel

Listen!

If you want to help the cause please leave a comment or email me!

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This newly created blog is going to be where you will be able to keep up-to date with the latest information about the Latin American Youth Summit. I will be updating the site and uploading videos sharing my experience working with the BCM team.

Take Care

Sadiq

When I found out I was very hyper, I was on the phone telling everyone I know! I can’t wait to meet the other participants!

I have created this blog to document my entire process working with the Global Change Makers team and share my experience via updates and short films during the summit!

Today has been a very good day; I have also got confirmation that a development film that I created last year to highlight issues children face living in the Peruvian shantytowns, is going to be screened everyday at the Glastonbury Festival this week!

Sadiq