The GP2 Project - Cleaning Up the Great Pacific Garbage Patch Now

Problem: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil– The founder and sculptor Crispin de Assis Pinheiro works with allegorical floats and sculptures, for academic and carnavalesque works. In 1996 the sculptor had the idea to develop the “Argilano” project based on the need for skilled sculptural workers. Since then he has developed the course methodology, geared towards both youths and adults, with the objective of preserving the lost-wax and form-making modeling techniques. These techniques, without a renewal in ...

Action: Services offered:   Professional training courses in modeling, sculpture, casting, and crafts relating to carnaval. Overcoming the lack of skilled laborers in the field of casting in Rio de Janeiro Artistic and professional training course.  Clay sculpture, modeling and casting in bronze or concrete

Problem: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil– An electronic magazine, covering the most diverse aspects of black culture to include popular artists in the media. Samba Republic strives to integrate and include videos and films about the culture of samba and to advance the careers of those involved.    

Action: Multimedia "journalistic" project: video, journalism, and music. Three times: the past (video), the present (interviews) and the future (new talents). This project exists as a video exhibition, talk show, and music show which was born from an electronic magazine. The program covers the most diverse aspects of black culture.   Services offered:   To increase respect for the culture of samba through video, journalism, and music. To understand the culture of samba as a synthesis of Br...

Problem: Arcos da Lapa, Rio de Janeiro– This project began in 1978. The objective of this program is to teach the true history of Brazil through Capoeira and the professional preparation of the students.   The teacher Arerê became involved with the art of Capoeira when he was a child in the 60's, observing and playing naturally in his community of origin (Juramento Hill – Vicente de Carvalho). He was the student of the late teacher Nilson Arerê, founder and creator of the Capoeira Arerê Group in ...

Action: We strive to teach street children, people from the communities, the middle and upper classes the true history of Brazil through Capoeira. Services Offered: Angolan Capoeira Maculelê Net pulling Literacy African Dance Instrument making Introduction to music Ecological awareness Citizenship

Problem: Jardim America, Rio de Janeiro– Dancing in the Communities offers dance classes, stretching, presentations, art and awareness workshops, guidance for social aid, guidance for medical aid, creation and participation in cultural events to fix problems of low self-esteem, social exclusion, lack of solidarity, lack of consciousness of and care for one's body, lack of opportunities to participate in and construct original artwork in one's own community, difficulties in family relationships,...

Action: The project is promoted through pamphlets, placards and principally through word of mouth. When an interested child arrives at the NGO, a registration form is filled out. Then the child begins to participate in the dance classes. It is preferred that the parents fill out the registration form, but this does not always happen. At the time of registration the following documents are required: proof the student is in school, his or her birth certificate and a certificate of health. During the r...

Problem: Los Angeles, California– The children who would otherwise be in the streets are now learning things that can help them in their futures. They also get the chance to visit other places in Brazil where they learn to comprehend the world outside of their home towns. Soccer school, professional courses such as information technologies, dramatic arts, arts and crafts, clothing design and production, culinary arts.   The community of Father Miguel houses 41,000 residents and is located in the...

Action: Soccer school, professional courses such as: information technologies, dramatic arts, arts and crafts, clothing design and production, culinary arts. There are three groups that function in the same way. The project puts one person in charge of the public relations through direct contact with community members. In this way, new participants hear about the project. When new participants come to the project, they must present a copy of their birth certificate, four photos, a copy of the identi...

Problem: Acari Complex, Rio de Janeiro– The original objectives at project outset are to teach teens how to create poetry that can be transformed into rap lyrics and provide capacity-building for community managers and educators, as part of an effort to help them develop their projects by using Hip Hop language to increase communication with local youths. The Fifth Element also supports the production and promotion of local artistic expression.  We hope to sensitize local youths to their civil rights ...

Action: Original objectives at project outset is to teach teens how to create poetry that can be transformed into rap lyrics. Capacity-building for community managers and educators: an effort to help them develop their projects by using Hip Hop language to increase communication with local youths. We offer Spoken word workshops; Graffiti workshops; DJ workshops; B.Boys workshops; Lectures about human rights and health promotion. There have already been workshops for inmates and with activists for th...

Problem: Jardim América, Rio de Janeiro– The project began on the streets of the community with the distribution of soup from a vehicle by Mrs. América and her husband, and it has continued to develop with the donation of the current lot. The Soup House seeks to help with the nutrition of the local needy children and with others without the basic resources necessary to carry out a dignified existence by providing free soup distribution, four times weekly, and a monthly lunch. ...

Action: The Soup House has come to include its own school which prepares children ages 3 to 5 for their entrance into elementary school. The project includes one community of the barrio Jardim Ocidental as well as others in the city of Nova Igua such as Monte Castelo, Santa Rita, Corumb, Figueira etc. In Jardim Ocidental, there is an estimated population of about 600 people. In Vila de Cava, the largest neighboring community, the population jumps to 3,000 people. The inhabitants derive primarily fr...

Problem: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil– The objective of Young Artisans is to teach awareness about sexually transmitted diseases, AIDS, drugs, and teenage pregnancy and provide activities with the objective of generating income and professional training for teenagers. Specifically, classes focus on artisanship including: jewelery making, sandal making, basket making, and embroidery. Another goal is the fostering of the improvement of self-esteem and citizenship of these young people through workshops,...

Action: Teaching awareness about Sexually Transmitted Diseases, AIDS, drugs, and teenage pregnancy Elaborate activities with the objective of generating income Professional training for these teenagers with classes in artisanship including jewelery, making sandals, basket-making, and embroidery. Fostering of the improvement of self-esteem and citizenship of these young people through workshops, presentations and group dynamics Extensive psychological care for the families

Problem: Beit-Shemesh, Israel– In Beit-Shemesh Mate Yehuda community in Beit-Shemesh, Israel, a city of 50,000, 30% of whom are new immigrants, many immigrants have few or no computer skills and difficulty accessing jobs. Eitan Hevrony and his organization, the Beit-Shemesh Mate Yehuda Volunteer Center, began a program to change this. Founded in 2001, the Center is a newly founded organization, whose main goal is to encourage volunteer activities in Beit Shemesh and Matte Yehuda.

Action: The goal of this project is to: Deliver used computers to local NGOs and children's shelters; free courses of basic computer skills Give a chance to people from low socio-economic status to learn basic computer skills Improve their long-term employability and integration into mainstream Israeli society The target population includes: 800 single parent families (4000 individuals) 1000 new immigrants that are in need for computer education 3000 elderly in the suburbs that have no accessib...

Problem: San Francisco, California– Street Spirit is a publication of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) that reports extensively on homelessness, poverty, economic inequality, welfare issues, human rights issues and the struggle for social justice. Street Spirit has been dedicated to empowering poor and homeless people and giving a voice to the voiceless, at a time when the voices of the poor are virtually locked out of the mainstream media.  

Action: Street Spirit is a publication documenting Justice News and Homeless Blues in the Bay Area. It is a partnership between American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) and Building Opportunities for Self-Sufficiency (BOSS). Below is information on both agencies. Street Spirit is a publication of the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). AFSC was founded by Quakers in 1971 to provide conscientious objectors an opportunity to aid civilian victims during World War I. Today it carries on Programs ...