Fight for a Favela – IASESPE community in Rio De Janeiro

Conor Hartnett from the Clara Road has recently moved to Rio de Janeiro to work as a volunteer in the favelas (slums) with kids for 6 months maybe longer. His project called IASESPE is a community centre providing a safe haven for kids away from the drug dealers, to provide education, lunches, games, talks on drugs and extra education, as well as a place they can come and feel safe and off the streets.

They have made a video describing the project (which you can see at the bottom of this post) in which Conor appears numerous times, and where he explains the situation, and the need for funding to keep the project alive.  “It would be amazing and a huge help if you could donate or SHARE this link with friends family and work colleagues.” Conor explains much better in his letter:

” As some of you may know late September I decided to move to Rio de Janeiro to work in the favelas (slums) with kids for 6 months maybe longer .

My projects called IASESPE – http://www.indiegogo.com/fightforafavela?c=home
and is a community centre providing a safe haven for kids away from the drug dealers who recruit kids as young as 7, we also provide extra education , lunches ( which the kids devour due to hunger ), games,talks on drugs and education as well as a place they can come and feel safe and off the Streets

I’ve been to their houses, 4 in a bed concrete floor,toilet like you’ve never imagined , the mother sleeps on the floor but the kids are spotless and always smiling , mind blowing poverty but they are all so grateful to me it makes it all worthwhile .

The bad news is Chirley the lady who runs it ( and is a human dynamo as well as being the most inspirational human being i’ve ever met) and has dedicated her entire life to make the kids lives some bit better in the Boncucesso favela (known as the Gaza strip)has thyroid cancer and cancer of the uterus.

The Brazilian public health system won’t see her for months whilst the cancer possibly grows . Also the project is out of funds . A few weeks ago she broke down crying in my arms, not because of her illness but because she cannot find time or energy of late to help drum up financial support ( no state or government funding anyway )and she is stressed that the project will go under).

So I have setup a website http://www.indiegogo.com/fightforafavela?c=home
and got a promo documentary 6 minute film shot. It would be amazing and a huge help if you could donate or SHARE this link with friends family and work colleagues.
The aim is to ensure the projects sustainability and try and get Chirley to be treated in the private system , she’s unaware and will resist but I will insist .If we are successful we are also looking at buying a new premises for the centre.

if you guys cant afford to donate then please encourage all people you know via email /Facebook to donate and if not to simply share the link with more friends and family as spreading exposure to this page / 5 min doc/ charity would be hugely appreciated

I hope I can help sort all this in the coming months and then return to Australia but cannot leave until I have this situation resolved

if you can help me promote the story of saving this project and possibly this ladies life I will be eternally grateful and I guarantee all donations go straight to IASESPE

At present we can only accept Credit card payments as Paypal Brazil need a million documents ( Hope to have this addressed ASAP ) For now if you are to donate please use Credit Card .

For Security purposes I chose The Platform / Site provider Indiegogo a secure well known Non Profit organisation based in the US who help provide secure payment solutions

Hope all is well guys , thanks a million

Va Com Deus meu Amigos xx
Conor “

The Fight for a Favela video – Conor can be seen in the video from 5:22 to 6:16

There is a link for donations at the bottom of the Fight for Favela page