Residents of Paraguaçu, when we are born, a star lights up there in the sky. For some its spark increases progressively … but for others it becomes dim and sometimes vanishes. It is for the latter that Pingo de Gente fights.

It is not a question of intelligence, but the absence of a guiding hand that leads them in the right direction. We are conscious of the existence of countless dim lights in Paraguaça Paulista SP and when we meet people who think and act the same way as us, that incites us to move forward.

Let's state, as an example, the "rice and beans" campaign set up by the local Tiro de Guerra branch. A campaign organised with respect and in good conscience. Moral of the story : an increase of awareness of the social responsibility that directly benefits impoverished persons. May this case be taken as an example by those who aim for well-being, safety, prevention, health and education for all because it is with actions like these that we will together manage to shape a healthy and happy community, all in remembering that "my freedom starts where my neighbour's ends".

What is Pingo de Gente? A young NGO that heads step by step at the side of the community of Paraguaçu and which tries to find positive guiding lines to help the community in the fields of development, creativity, long term employment, the fight against social marginalisation and prevention.

We launched in 2008 via our website a campaign directed at all the national and international companies inviting them to demonstrate in favour of the population of Paraguaçu SP. On the "Presentation" page of our site can be read " […] I let out a cry in the huge darkness to all those responsable for foreign branches established in Brazil. A cry, a gesture in benefit of my youths, of my little town. I am sure, you are not going to miss the departure of this train which will leave on a journey for a long but pleasant and profitable destination.".

Thanks to the campaign that we launched in June 2010 in partnership with Radio Nova Sertaneja (see Google Analytics) out site had an average of 1500 visitors a day from 228 towns in Brazil as well as other visitors from at least 56 countries and we have received a great amount of e-mails, letters and faxes sent from all corners of the world.

That's our visiting card in Paraguaçu. We stress in particular the Vila Gamon neighbourhoods, Barra Funda (the most impoverished), the athlete Apan Adriele Helm Pavão Gonçalves (ex Pingo de Gente), Vila Vitor Labate. We emphasize the exemplary work carried out on Maria Benedita de Jesus Paranhos Street by all its residents under the tune "the front of your house is your visiting card". We especially thank the paintors of the World Cup 2010, residents of Barra Funda as well as the pupil of N.R. dos Santos, Alexandrina Pena for her moving text written in a very correct, simple and sincere manner.

Home helps, cleaning ladies? I have not yet forgotten them. Steps carry on for their legalisation.

Where am I right now?

Reading the local media …

• "thief arrested at his lover's … in Barra Funda"
• "a man arrested because he stole a Bible!"
• "some youths arrested because they stole a few clothes"
• "2 youths killed … Food … in Barra Funda"
• "youth caught red-handed stealing concentrated milk!!!"

… I conclude that long-term projects aiming at the acknowledgement of moral and human values, prevention, and professional training for all youths in an impoverished situation must be closely studied and carried out. Projects that benefit local youth there where collective integration is required, highlight creativity, give a chance to less privileged people ; as I mentioned earlier, this wounded youth has tremendous intelligence potential, what lacks are people who can guide them irrespective of race, skin colour or social background, giving them the same chances with regards to work at the local level.

Human life is a gift from God, it is up to us to protect it.

I am conscious that we can not DEMAND miracles in little time, knowing above all that claims should have been put forward and DEMANDED for years, but we can DEMAND a gain of general awareness on the Mothers'part, in way of a greater opening to dialogue, a special attention given to our teenagers. I know that it is not an easy task, but it is during this critical phase of life that they need our attention and understanding. Rebellion is part of the intellectual development of youth and ill-intended "friends" will always be present to take negative advantage of this situation. Badly placed criticism, the severity of acts and actions will only bring disasters that the media broadcast to us daily. Alas! Young people, why say Yes, when the desire is to say No? Think about it!!!

Our train has already left, the journey will be long, we know it, to meet those who believe in us, in our work, in our goals. In our baggage lies above all the key to the truth with which we try to explain our goals in all paths we come across.

May God be with us always.

Maria Madalena Gonçalves dos Santos, President of Pingo de Gente NGO – Socio-cultural organisation

More than six thousand new trees will be planted in Paraguaçu.

By decision of the Mayor of Paraguaçu Paulista, Ediney Taveira Queiróz, all agreements reached by the Public Ministry and decisions taken by this Ministry concerning the municipality will have to be carried out immediately.

According to the Town Hall’s Environment Department, for previous years many administrations signed agreements and received decisions on behalf of the Public Ministry, which were not applied, which entails great financial losses for the city, due to fines incurred, and constitutes a harm for the population which does not benefit from the consequent improvement of quality of life.

Three Termos de Ajustamento de Conduta – TAC (Adjustment Conduct Terms) had previously been signed for the roadworks of a new motorcycle racetrack in the city, from the road of the Centro de Convergência Turística - CCT (Tourist Convergence Centre) and that of the Fazenda Paciência at Conceição de Monte Alegre.

A decision had also been taken concerning environmental development in the context of works carried out at Água do Alegre and in the São Matheus quarter, on top of the replacement of palm trees which were planted on Comendador Hissagy Marubayashi avenue.

"All these actions should have been taken for a long time, but for different reasons, this was not done. The Public Ministry now requests us for settlements and under our responsibility, conscious of the importance of this step, we will undertake the necessary action as soon as possible" declared Patrícia Duarte – Director of the Town Hall’s Environment Department.

Mayor Ediney therefore decided, through the intermediary of an adjudication procedure, to draw up a contract with a company in Paraguaçu to go about, straight away, with the plantation of new trees and the necessary replacements for the application of decisions taken.

A total of 6 300 new native or decorative tree species will be planted, supplied wholly by the tree nursery kept by the Town Hall, plantation remaining up to the company hired for the works.

(arquivo Portal Paraguaçu 15/01/2011)

Paraguaçu Paulista was commissioned to plant a thousand trees (25/05/2008)

It is with deep sadness that Gonçalves Dos Santos Family announces the death of Mr Benedito Gonçalves Dos Santos - "Boca negra", former football player at Colorado PR, Pinheiros, Marìlia Atlètico Clube, Usina Nova Amèrica, Grêmio Catanduvense, Velo Clube Rio Clarense, São Carlense, Independente Futebol Clube de Limeira, União Bandeirante, Time do Sertãozinho, Paraguaçuense (trainer). Mr Benedito Gonçalves Dos Santos passed away in Paraguaçu Paulista SP, his native town, on the 26th of September 2010 at the age of 59, after a long illness. All his relatives rallied around him.

« Dans la simplicité de mon coeur, Seigneur, j'ai tout donné. Il a plu au Seigneur d'appeler à Lui pour partager sa joie. »

Very honestly I have always been hesitant to disclose of social work, of institutions, and so on… Unfortunately in our country we have a few bad examples, which very often finish by tainting the name of others who, in truth, do a real job.

A while ago, I heard of the existence of an NGO which works inside the province of São Paulo. I took good references of it and I tried to get better informed on this NGO. One day I had the pleasure of getting to know the NGO Pingo de Gente better. I met and had a talk with its founder, Mrs. Maria Magdalena, who explained all the work carried out by its partners and showed that there are still serious people, who really fight to reach an objective : to create a fairer community, in trying to minimise inequality between people and in offering everybody a certain quality of life.

With a fascinating project, this lady and her ‘partners’ seek to give a certain dignity to less fortunate young people of the city of Paraguaçu Paulista – inside the province of São Paulo -, by offering them a quality education, learning foreign languages, playing sports and much more. As we all know : he who busies the mind with constructive projects, has no time to enter the criminal world.

The project is excellent ! The ideas are brilliant and deserve our full attention. But as we all also know, an NGO receives no assistance from the government. Where therefore do the funds for continuing and enlarging a project like this come from ? In truth, a life project for many youths! How to manage without support? Impossible! It is for this reason that radio “Nova Sertaneja”, which is currently one of the «radios sertanejas» transmitted on the web, the most listened to in Brazil, thought that it was its social duty to voice the objectives of this cause and request the cooperation of all those who believe that « in joining forces, everything is possible ».

It is extremely convenient to stay home and watch our youth deteriorate through lack of motivation, through lack of orientation and simply limit itself to criticising our politicians.

Is there any point in criticising ? Of course not ! Then lets roll up our sleeves and all try to do something together !

I was very pleased to hear that the campaign we started a little more than a month ago has already born its fruits ! Each day goes by, more and more people become acquainted with the work carried out by the NGO Pingo de Gente.

The people who visit our website hear our appeal and show interest in better knowing this cause !

If you do not yet know about Pingo de Gente’s work, I suggest you visit the NGO’s official website :
www.ongpingodegente.org.br

Maurício Krintchev
President – Rádio Nova Sertaneja
**OUVIDA**

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