Find out how staff from Simplyhealth got on when volunteering in Brazil

Day 1 (Saturday 11 October 2008)

Things didn't started well. The designated driver dropped the one and only car key on the road outside his house at 1.15am and watched it skip across the ground onto a drain. Luckily it didn't fall down the gap and we merrily made our way to Heathrow for our flight to Brasilia.
 
At the airport we met up with Ian from Across the Divide, the company that sourced and managed the building of the healthcare centre in Brazil, plus Amy, the trip doctor - hopefully, we won't be requiring her services.
All of us are slightly apprehensive about what the trip is actually going to entail - will we be able to make a difference? Do we really deserve this?


Day 2

Met with Dr Marco this morning (a local, English-speaking doctor) and listened to him talk about the Brazilian healthcare system. It's very similar to the NHS in structure but not on the same scale and some people have to travel hundreds of miles to their nearest hospital. We all agreed we would never again complain about travelling 10 minutes to our nearest hospital.

Later we travelled by mini bus to Alto Paraiso through a mainly desolate landscape and were greeted at our hotel by two bright green parrots and a baby humming bird. We're feeling really excited about the project and, after all the travelling, we want to get cracking on something constructive. Some of us also endeavoured to learn Portuguese in preparation for our trip and are now keen to put it into practice.

Day 3

We arrived at camp, which will be our home for the week - the pod tents are already pitched and look surprising welcome and comfortable. A local farmer has loaned the land and his home to us and so before we arrived Across the Divide built a shower and toilet block, which will then be handed over to the farmer following our departure.  It's hard to believe that they don't have these facilities as a given.

Once the bags were dropped off we took a short walk down the track to start work on the health centre. We were met by a welcoming committee from the Kalungas community, which included a number of elders, Cyrillo and Cesario, who spoke about the importance of our help. They couldn't believe we had travelled across the world to help them and their community. There was also a representative from the Mayor's office to pledge their support for the future of the health centre. 

Work started with brushing down every wall and floor. We managed to paint five rooms and there was a real sense of achievement. At the end of the day we sat down with the locals, covered in dirt and paint, eating watermelons - bliss.

Day 4

Throughout today more and more people showed up as the villagers became more curious. Wide-eyed children were in abundance - some with no shoes and ripped clothing. One little boy took a real shine to us and helped with the rollering. He had a badly burnt leg but never complained - just kept smiling the most beautiful smile.

This afternoon we were also invited to prepare flour for a special bread with Cyrillo's sister in law, Jetulia, who is 64 years old. So much work goes into preparing this flour, which is then used in many different ways for food. Jetulia had started at 7.00am and we joined her for the last part of the process at 2.30pm. We ended up staying for dinner at Cesario's house ¬- he's such a lovely and genuine man. He walks with a significant limp having been hurt when a tree fell on him but he was at the health centre today helping out and made us all feel very humble and inspired.

We're all feeling very tired today. It's been physically exhausting painting and repainting the building. The floor of the entire building must have been swept at least 10 times - but it's all worth it.

Day 5

We visited the Santa Barbara waterfalls in the National Park today. The wind had dropped so it was by far the hottest day of the trip. The approach to the falls was hidden by trees but we could all hear the roar of the water. Five minutes later we saw a gorgeous aquamarine pool - and our jaws just dropped. The falls were 50 metres high and absolutely stunning. We relaxed and swam about, jumping off the rocks, through the waterfall.

During the afternoon we also visited the local school - they were overwhelmed by the number of gifts we had brought for them, which had been donated by our colleagues back at Simplyhealth.  A 14-year-old girl gave an inspirational speech that just knocked our socks off.  She showed us that these kids don't need lots of toys or luxuries - they are happy with simple kindness. The class wanted to know more about how long it had taken us to get to their village and what the schools were like in the UK.

Day 6

Our last day working on the health centre and it was ‘glossing' all day. Luckily some of us got to work on the sign on the front of the health centre. It took a while to plan how to fit the words ‘UNIDADE BASICA DE SAUDE JOANA CESARIO DE TORRES' on the wall but it looks great. It's named and dedicated to a local midwife who lived to 115 years and was loved by the community.

After dinner we were given wooden sticks with some kind of material bound around the top. These were then lit and we followed the procession to the local church with almost the entire village. Following the blessing, some men from the village played instruments and a group of children in lovely vibrant outfits showed us the local dance and grabbed a few of us to join in.


Day 7

Wow - what a day. The whole village turned up with hundreds of kids.  It was now time to officially hand the health centre over to the community. A contingent from the local government arrived and gave a wonderfully heartfelt speech about what had been achieved here in Simplyhealth's name. They'd heard what we were doing and despite the treacherous roads and very little petrol they were determined to come and see for themselves. 

The children had written lovely poems and speeches and gave us homemade wooden gifts - which was a lovely surprise. The emotion of the last week appeared as we all realised our achievements. 

It was odd when we started to pack our things up, as there was a realisation that work-boots, hats, torches, first aid kits and t-shirt would make such difference to the villagers - so we left with pretty much what we had come with. No one needed to say anything as we handed the bits over.


How did the experience touch the staff when they arrived back in the UK?

I've never been so proud in my life as when we stood in front of the building ready to hand it over to the villagers.  Boyd Galloway

I stood transfixed at the steady flow of villagers coming up the dirt path for the handover ceremony - what an amazing site. The speeches started and so did my tears. Gale Kidman

We can all learn from the Kalungas people... material wealth and possessions mean nothing. It's who you are that matters and not what you have. Jamie Jones

We met some truly wonderful people who have such a simple way of life but who are all so blissfully happy and unaware... Thank you, Simplyhealth, for a trip of a lifetime. Kate Auton

I feel rejuvenated and happy... life is for living and we need to make the most of the opportunities we have and try and have a worthwhile effect on the world. Lisa Holden

We're so wrapped up in our own little bubble, thinking we need all this ‘stuff' when actually we don't. The Kalungas have it right - what's really important is family and health and a sense of community. Alie Paxton

The Kalungas people said they couldn't believe we had left our families and come halfway round the world just to help them. We couldn't believe we'd been so lucky to have the opportunity.  Gill Phipps

If I can go to the other side of the world with people who I've never met before, doing something I've never done before, then I'm sure I can do anything.  Michelle Thompson

It's clear that the Kalungas' children are a ‘chosen generation'...  Each one has a part to play in furthering the Kalungas' community and to be a ‘history maker' in their village and their country. Iain Nash

Simplyhealth's commitment has enabled the village to apply for additional Brazilian government funds and secure the ongoing services of Doctors and healthcare workers.  Subsequently, the health centre is now larger in capacity, truly sustainable and will provide greater healthcare provisions for the future.  www.simplyhealth.co.uk

Across the Divide was established to deliver exceptional UK and worldwide CSR projects and events.   In 11 years Across the Divide has raised over £30 million for 150 different charities.