The I.C.B.I.E. Blog

Prima trasferta ICBIE Italia.

(English translation below)

Domenica 26 ottobre una piccola rappresentanza ICBIE Italia è partita alla scoperta del Festival della Creatività di Firenze che quest’anno ha accolto il Brasile come paese ospite d’onore. E quale scelta migliore???!!!
Visitando gli innumerevoli stand presenti abbiamo avuto l’ulteriore conferma di un paese in fermento culturale e creativo; tante forme di espressione diverse: arti grafiche, moda, fotografia, cinema, pubblicità, graffiti, ecc. Ma anche voglia di crescita economica con la presenza di alcune rappresentanze ufficiali governative: Ministero del commercio, Stato del Piauì, di Santa Catarina, del Cearà, Banco do Brasil, Governo Federale del Brasile e non ultime molti enti culturali ed associazioni e ONG che lavorano sul territorio brasiliano.
E un contatto interessante e speriamo molto costruttivo ci è venuto proprio da una associazione, la Victoria Regia che porta avanti un progetto di Cooperazione Internazionale, con l’obiettivo di sostenere la realizzazione di progetti e scambi socio-culturali, creare una rete di relazioni, Nazionali ed Internazionali, nell’ambito della Educazione allo Sviluppo Sostenibile. Offre alle scuole, elementari, medie, superiori, un programma di supporto didattico, utilizzando la pedagogia di Educazione Creativa per una Vita di Valore. L’obiettivo è lo sviluppo del benessere degli stessi ragazzi ed adolescenti, impartire la cultura del diritto, del dialogo, della preservazione e conservazione della propria cultura e dei propri spazi ambientali, dell’educazione allo sviluppo equo solidale, della parità tra sessi e la non violenza nel nostro tempo.
Obiettivi ed attività ci sono sembrati subito tanto simili ed affini a quelli dell’ICBIE a Salvador!
Ed allora con il presidente Iramar (nella foto con Monica, Marcella, Consuelo) abbiamo deciso di incontrarci al più presto a Roma per programmare qualche evento insieme e parlare anche del progetto DirittoAlFuturo in difesa dei Diritti Umani in quanto nel 2008 ricorre il 60° Anniversario della Dichiarazione dei Diritti Umani.
Siamo ritornate verso Roma ricaricate e piene di energia ed entusiasmo verso nuovi progetti e nuovi spazi, anche se un po’ rammaricate per non aver approfittato della feijoada che da li a poco sarebbe stata servita presso il Ristorante Brasiliano presente in fiera….va bè, sarà per la prossima volta!

On Sunday, October 26th, a small group from ICBIE Italia took a trip to Florence to check out the Festival della Creatività, which this year has chosen Brazil as its central theme.  They couldn’t have made a better choice!!!

Visiting the numerous stands, we were able to confirm, once again, the country’s cultural and creative ferment; so many different forms of experssion: graphic art, fashion, photography, cinema, advertising, graffiti, etc.  But also a desire for economic growth, with ufficial government representatives: the Ministry of Commerce, the Piauì State, Santa Catarina,  Cearà, The Bank of Brazil, the Brazil Federal Government and last but not least, many cultural groups, associations, and NGOs working in Brazil.

One interesting and hopefully constructive contact involved an association, the Victoria Regia, that carries out a project for International Cooperation, with the objective of sustaining the realization of socio-cultural exchanges and projects, creating a network of relations, national and international, in the field of education for sustainable development.  It offers schools, elementary, middle and high, a program of didactic support, using a pedagogy “for creative education and a life of value.”  The idea is to foster the development of youths and adolescents, teaching a culture of rights, of dialogue, of the conservation of their own culture and their own environmental space, through education for universal solidarity and development, equal rights for men and women, and non-violence.

Objectives and activities that immediately seemed very close to those of the ICBIE in Salvador!

And so with the president Iramar (in the photo with Monica, Marcella and Consuela), we decided to meet as soon as possible in Rome, to organize an event together, and also to discuss the project “Right to a Future in Defense of Human Rights,” seeing as in 2008 we celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights.

We returned to Rome recharged, full of energy and enthusiasm for the new projects and new spaces, even though we were a bit peeved about having just missed the feijoada that was served at the Brazilian restaurant at the fair that night.  Oh well, next time!

Marcella

Un altro produttivo incontro per l’ICBIE Italia

(English translation below)

Domenica 18 ottobre, nella splendida cornice della Casetta Rossa a Garbatella alla luce di uno splendido sole regalato dall’incantevole ottobre romano, il gruppo ICBIE Italia ha nuovamente fatto il punto sulle iniziative ed il programma di attività della rappresentanza italiana dell’ICBIE.

Innanzitutto si è parlato di come realizzare il sotto sito italiano ormai indispensabile per diffondere notizie ed informazioni a proposito delle nostre attività e dei servizi che offriamo e potremmo offrire in futuro.

La relazione delle attività realizzate fin ora da ICBIE Italia è stata visionata ed approvata da tutti i presenti ed affidata alle sapienti mani di Pina Madonna che provvederà ad inoltrarla alla Agenzia delle Entrate per compiere l’iscrizione e poi andremo anche in regione per iscriverci all’albo regionale delle ONLUS.

La novità più importante riguarda un progetto didattico – culturale da offrire ad un gruppo di insegnanti brasiliani in arrivo nel nostro Paese nel mese di gennaio 2009. Una insegnante, collega della nostra Monica, impegnata già da tempo in cooperazione e scambi culturali con il Brasile, ci ha proposto di collaborare con lei per offrire lezioni di lingua italiana ad un gruppetto di brasiliani provenenti dal Paranà. Subito abbiamo pensato di elaborare un piccolo progetto che riguardasse non solo semplici lezioni di italiano ma anche gite turistiche – culturali per le strade di Roma, un mini corso di creazione di impresa, serate dedicate al cinema italiano e ancora qualcos’altro. Il progetto è un piccolo pacchetto iniziale da sperimentare a gennaio e poi da reiterare in un’attività più costante e continuativa nel tempo, offrendo tale servizio anche ad altri stranieri residenti in Italia o solo di passaggio.

A dare anche un tono professionale al tutto si aggiunge l’intenzione di alcune volontarie dell’ICBIE Italia di conseguire la certificazione DITALS (Certificazione di Competenza in Didattica dell’Italiano a Stranieri), titolo culturale rilasciato dall’Università per Stranieri di Siena che valuta la preparazione teorico-pratica nel campo dell’insegnamento dell’italiano a stranieri e certifica diversi livelli di competenza professionale in tale settore.

Come sempre non manca l’entusiasmo e la voglia di fare, accompagnati da una buona forza di volontà da parte di tutti.

Ai prossimi aggiornamenti,

Marcella

Da sinistra: Claudia (amica di Pina Madonna), Giuseppina (l’insegnante amica di Monica che c’ha proposto il corso ai brasiliani), Pina, Marcella, Loona, Roberto, Consuelo

—–

On Sunday, October 18th, at the Casetta Rossa (Little Red House) in Garbatella, illuminated by the light of splendid sunshine, a gift of the enchanting weather in Rome this October, the ICBIE Italy group continued its discussion regarding the initiatives and the program of activities to be promoted by the ICBIE Italian office.  First of all, we talked about getting a page on the ICBIE website, something that has become indispensable, for spreading news and information regarding the activities  and services that we intend to offer.

The report of all the ICBIE Italia activities realized in recent years was surveyed and approved by all, and entrusted to the deft hands of Pina Madonna, who will have it sent to the government agency that will soon recognize us as an official NGO, and it will also be used to get us on the regional registers.

The most important new business regarded an cultural and educational project, to offer to a group of Brazilian teachers who will arrive in Italy in the month of January, 2009.  A teacher, a colleague of our Monica, who for some time has been helping in cooperation and cultural exchange projects with Brazil, suggested that we collaborate with her to offer Italian language lessons to a group of Brazilians coming from  Paranà.  We immediately began to elaborate a small project that involves not only regular Italian lessions but also cultural tours around Rome, a mini course in business formation, and evenings dedicated to Italian cinema, among other things.  This project is a small initial step, to try out in January and then to repeat in a more regular fashion in the future, offering these services to other foreigners, whether they be residents in Italy or temporary visitors.

To elevate the professional tone of things, we also intend to have several volunteers of ICBIE Italy complete the DITALS (Certificazione di Competenza in Didattica dell’Italiano a Stranieri) certification (the Italian equivalent of TOEFL), which is given by the University for Foreigners in Siena, based upon a thorough preparation, both in theory and in practice, which evalutes and certifies different levels of professional competency.

As always, everybody showed no shortage of enthusiasm and a strong eagerness to get going, along with an iron determination.

Until next time,

Marcella

Politics seems to be on everybody’s mind these days: first, there’s the run-off vote for Salvador’s mayor; the US campaign is under daily scrutiny all around the world; and Italians are getting used to their new government, the most conservative in sixty years.   Acting as a kind of cultural thermometer, the ICBIE decided to tap into the public frenzy, offering an in-depth reflection upon a very pertinent political issue, going beyond the false promises and slogans, the sound bytes and the jingles.

A new ICBIE Cineforum presents eight Italian films that deal with the subject of Italian Fascism or Neo-Fascism from 1922 until the present.  Every Friday evening, from the 10th of October to the 28th of November, our students and friends will hear Pietro Gallina’s presentations before each film, putting the stories in their proper historical and cultural perspectives.   Given the wide variety of directors, actors and actresses, the political struggles of the Italian people will be seen from many different viewpoints, and this will certainly give our Bahians plenty of food for thought.

Cultura do grafite em residência
A Nova10ordem comemorou no último sexta-feira, o aniversário de 10 anos do grupo, com a mostra Expo lá na rua, a primeira de uma série de três, já programadas para os dias 10 dos meses de novembro e dezembro deste ano.

Esta é uma mostra da arte do grafite em paredes de uma residência e inédita em seu formato. Além disso, a exposição conta com pinturas em blocos, isopores, latas de sprays e telas ao ar livre, além de esculturas com materiais recicláveis. Os trabalhos são assinados pelos artistas Júlio Costa, Bigod (Jocivaldo Silva), Prisk (Marcos Carmo), Sluts (Jodson), Sins (Olivier Sibel), Sank25 (Marcos Cantuária), Prusik (Jesiel) e Ivanildo, um dos primeiros integrantes do grupo.

Idealizada pelo coletivo de grafiteiros da Nova10ordem, a escolha da Expo lá na rua para ser exibida em dois pavimentos da casa de Júlio Costa, foi uma forma de descentralizar o foco das exposições convencionais em galerias e trazer para locais onde essas manifestações não fazem parte do cotidiano. “Não é uma forma contestação e nem de preconceito. É uma necessidade de se expressar, utilizando esse tipo de espaço, os amigos e a rua” explicou Júlio. Para Sins, o mais novo da Nova10ordem, a idéia é massa! É um espaço mais criativo e com mais liberdade.

A festa

Vários grafiteiros, amigos e familiares dos artistas estiveram presentes, prestigiando a expo. Muita alegria, confraternizações, elogios pela idéia inovadora e, embalados pelo som da música de hip-hop, os visitantes saboreavam um delicioso ponche, vinho ou refrigerante, além de degustarem um saboroso caldo de sururu.
JF Paranaguá

Last Friday, the Nova 10Ordem crew commemorated its tenth anniversary with a show called Expo on the Street, which is the first in a series of three, with the others scheduled on the tenth day of November and December of this year.

This is a show of graffiti art on the walls of a house, an unprecedented format.  That said, the exposition contains block paintings, polystyrene, spray cans and canvases flying free in the air, together with sculptures made of recycled materials.  The works were carried out by the artists Júlio Costa, Bigod (Jocivaldo Silva), Prisk (Marcos Carmo), Sluts (Jodson), Sins (Olivier Sibel), Sank25 (Marcos Cantuária), Prusik (Jesiel) and Ivanildo, one of the first members of the group.

Created by the Nova 10Ordem collective of graffiti artists, the choice of the Expo on the Street to use two floors of Júlio’s house for the exposition was a way to decentralize the focus of the conventional exposition in galleries and bring it to places where such shows never are part of daily routine.  “It isn’t a form of protest and it isn’t preconceived.  It is a necessity of self-expression, using this kind of space, with friends and the street,” Júlio explained.  For Sins, the newest member of Nova 10Ordem, the idea is the greatest.  It’s a more creative kind of space, and with more freedom.

The party

An assortment of graffiti artists, friends and the families of the artists were present, to honor the occasion.  A lot of joy, confraternity and praises for the innovative idea, and, excited by the sound of hip-hop music, the visitors tasted a delicious punch, cold wine, and even a taste of a delicious caldo de sururu.

Text and photos by JF Paranaguá

OK, maybe the International Graffiti Meeting was a stressful and financially difficult experience for the ICBIE, but deep down, we all feel good about it, and its legacy continues to grow, becoming some kind of Bahia Graffiti Woodstock, a magic moment.  Thanks to Bigode, a beautiful YouTube video has come to our attention.    Created by the Portuguese artist Mr.Dheo, this five minute movie captures the excitement of the mastodontic graffiti projects, where the local kids joyfully participated and a whole world of understanding and creativity emerged.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UjvileEinBg

Once again, dear Paranaguá has come through with a gallery of his beautiful photographs, documenting the Guido Daniele show that was inaugurated at the ICBIE on Wednesday evening.  Keeping to the theme “Bahia Loves (Calls) Africa,” he performed a live body painting while the public viewed his photographs.

At the same time, our ever present street artists conducted a counter-exposition in the next room and outside the ICBIE main entrance. What an explosion of color, all in praise of Bahia and Africa!

Photos by J.F. Paranaguá

Some people might consider me a bit biased considering it was my 3rd trip in a year to Salvador; but once again the country and its people continue to surprise me in what they had to offer.

After a very long summer in Europe, I took off finally for Ribeira in late September. Thinking about it now, 2 days after my return, the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I arrived early enough to attend the last days of the graffiti festival and hang out with a few of the artists that stayed beyond. Who would have thought when I was trying to arrange some meetings for the ICBIE and Salvador Grafita crew during their trip to France and got in touch with the Kosmopolite crew, that only 5 months later such an event will take place? After only 2 months of preparation I was amazed at the diversity of the artists, the good spirit that prevailed, touched by the sacrifice of all the people there to make sure everybody had a place to sleep and was not left out tipping in their own pocket if necessary. As all big events, there were a few little hiccups but as we say in France: “Chapeau” to Julio and Pietro and all the others that made sure all went smoothly, the Jodsons, the Markus, the Lees, the Bigods … as well as Marlene, Lou and Joao attending all the needs and “dodois” of the crew 24h/7. For most, it was one of the best events they had ever participated in. Some new friendships were born, some ties have been strengthened, and new opportunities will definitely rise from here making me say, without hesitation, that it was worth all the hassle and sacrifices.

Very soon after that, there were some sad moments as it was time for Claire to depart. Although I have only met her on her last days there, I can understand how so many tears were shared at her departure and still could hear now and then how she is missed. Her hand-decorated and colorful little pigs scattered around ICBIE are a remembrance of her sweetness, thoughtfulness for everybody.

A few days after, party again. First Jodson’s mother’s birthday party in Massaranduba and then it was time for mine. I was sincerely moved by all the gestures from everybody present that night. What a better way to celebrate than churrasco, caipirinha, champagne, more cakes than you can eat and old friends. Special thanks to Julio, Pietro, Marlene, Lou, Jairo, Mary and Markus…and all the new friends I met for making me feel home more than ever that night.

Soon as the week end arrived, we were all off again this time to the interior part of the region at the invitation of our friend Paranaguá to his country house. What a wonderful time we shared with his family eating on the veranda while listening to Edith Piaf and Mireille Matthieu. What a great scenery discovered while horseriding through the land?

At our return and after this hectic time, things quiet down a little bit at ICBIE although it was bursting more than ever before with students from Monday to Saturday with the languages, IT, graphical design and Hapkido classes. Some of the students were crossing the entire city to attend a class at night because they loved the team and were eager to learn new things. Like it was not enough burdens to Marlene, she volunteered to give me Portuguese class very early in the morning. And even if after endless efforts, I still cannot get an “r” straight, her dedication didn’t diminish, and neither did our enthusiasm.   I was, myself, offered to give an initiation class to French after repeated requests from some students. And although, surprisingly, to my question if they had any knowledge in French, “Etes vous célibataire?” (Are you single?) was the first thing that came to mind from sweet Val, we shared some good laughs and neither of us even realized everybody else had left the building.

During this trip I also had a chance to discover the region, either helping out, here and there, sightseeing or visiting friends. All was very lively and festive because of the election campaign and the first days of spring.

How many good memories? Riding back and forth in the Vespa behind Pietro because we didn’t want to take the car… Getting bruised from the long rides on the Onîbus… totally drenched in the little boat going to the islands… sleeping on the kitchen floor of Julio’s friend’s house in construction in Arembepe trying not to think about the cobras, or again trying to help out Julio with the zealous kids during the art class he was offering in the neighboring schools …. Regrets? Nooo … Only one is that AINDO VOLTEI

Beijos a tudos Veronique

Guido Daniele is back at the ICBIE for another exposition of his world famous body painting, where he transforms parts of the human body (hands, feet, faces, etc.) into evocative animals, such as elephants, leopards, dogs, cats, eagles and so on.  His works which have even appeared on the Animal Planet program of the Discovery Channel.  This is his third visit to the ICBIE, and besides the showing of his photographs, he will perform a live body painting.

Tomorrow evening, October 8th, at 6 PM.

Thanks to the ongoing support of administration, faculty and students, the Bridge to Bahia project at the American Overseas School of Rome has grown steadily since its inception two years ago.  The school community has become familiar with the ICBIE and its work in behalf of the needy people of Salvador, and real bonds of friendship have been forged.  Four AOSR teachers have traveled to Brazil to give courses at the ICBIE, two AOSR graduates have done volunteer work and an AOSR family of five spent last year’s Christmas holiday there, while on two occasions, ICBIE students have come to AOSR, and these exchanges have had a positive effect upon both communities.

To kick off the third year of the project, Bridge to Bahia made a big splash at the AOSR Annual Family Picnic yesterday, assembling an impressive group of ICBIE supporters.  Along with Roy, Louise and Annie, Monica and Marcella came along, too, representing the new office of ICBIE Italia.  Bringing the Roman ICBIE supporters together with the international community of AOSR is a positive trend (and this was already clear at the Churrasco on the Beach party a month ago).  On the practical side, a new Bridge to Bahia brochure was distributed, a lot of Bahian handicrafts were sold and the donations box was generously stuffed.

But what caught everyone’s attention was a huge splash of color.  For the occasion, Julio & Bigode’s beautiful big mural was exposed, after being covered with student artworks during the past seven months.  Its impact was augmented by 31 big color photographs, showing our great ICBIE artists at work in the Alagados last August.  Mounted directly on the mural, the photos contextualized the stilt houses present in Julio and Bigode’s artwork, showing the desperate poverty, but also the faces of the delighted children while they observed the vibrant new colors that gave life, energy and hope to their squalid homes.

With this great start, Bridge to Bahia is poised to have its biggest year ever.  The AOSR eleventh graders in the International Baccalaureate program have again adopted our project to fulfill their community service requirement.  They are planning a big Brazilian evening, to be held in the school cafeteria in early March.  Hopefully, ICBIE Italia can assist them in enlisting a Brazilian cook and a band to provide the appropriate music.

Primo incontro operativo ICBIE Italia

E si finalmente ce l’abbiamo fatta! Ieri 2 ottobre il comitato ICBIE Italia, o almeno parte di esso, si è riunito per un incontro davvero operativo nella nostra nuova fantastica sede italiana. Grazie alla dedizione di Monica nel rendere il nostro ufficio accogliente e funzionale ci siamo ritrovati, davanti un ottimo piatto di penne al sugo di “spuntature” (a stomaco pieno si ragiona meglio, si sa) sapientemente preparato dalla stessa Monica, dicevo ci siamo ritrovati a pianificare le nostre prossime attività. C’erano la nostra indispensabile Pina accompagnata da Gianfranco, gli affezionati Paolo e Adriano, io (Marcella) e Monica naturalmente, e nuovi arrivi del gruppo Consuelo, Paola, Massimo (non sono certa dell’esattezza del nome) e Marco.

Tutti propositivi e con tante tante idee e progetti da sviluppare: offrire lezioni di italiano presso la Casetta Rossa di Garbatella ad immigrati stranieri e particolarmente brasiliani, lezioni di portoghese, attivare la collaborazione preziosa con Musica Incontro (grande spazio dove arte e musica possono liberamente esprimersi) magari cominciando con lezioni di samba tenute dalla nostra amica brasiliana Val in arrivo a dicembre a Roma e proseguendo con altre attività e manifestazioni simili (teatro, concerti, mostre, ecc). Si è parlato ancora una volta di un progetto di turismo sostenibile da poter sviluppare insieme a Viaggi e Miraggi con l’appoggio fondamentale dell’ICBIE a Salvador e di tante altre iniziative ed eventi per raccolta fondi ecc.

Intanto ci siamo organizzati per la partecipazione al prossimo evento di sabato 4 ottobre, quando presso la Scuola Americana di via Cassia si inaugurerà la attesissima mostra fotografica sugli Alagados, ad un anno dalla realizzazione da parte di Julio e Bigode del grafito rappresentante proprio le palafitte su una delle pareti della scuola stessa. Una nutrita rappresentanza ICBIE parteciperà all’evento, occasione in più per rafforzare la già consolidata collaborazione tra ICBIE e AOSR sul progetto “Bridge to Bahia”.

Priorità assoluta intanto quella di iscrivere l’ICBIE Italia nel registro regionale delle Onlus laziali e nel registro delle Agenzie delle Entrate per l’accesso dell’associazione all’agognato 5×1000. Ci stiamo muovendo per redigere la relazione attività che dimostri l’operatività dell’ICBIE Italia sul territorio nazionale e regionale, e speriamo che ben presto avremo questo importantissimo riconoscimento ufficiale. Insomma tanta voglia di fare, tanta energia e la volontà sopra ogni cosa di sostenere a distanza ed incoraggiare il grande, impareggiabile e prezioso lavoro dell’ICBIE a Salvador! Forza, siamo una squadra e si sa…l’unione fa la forza!!!!!!
Marcella

—————–

And we finally did it!  Yesterday, October 2nd, the members of the ICBIE Italia committee, or at least a good part of it, met in its fully functional Italian office.  Thanks to the dedication of Monica, who made the office so welcoming and efficient, we were able to assemble in front of delicious plates full of pasta (because we know that we think better when our stomachs are full) skillfully prepared by Monica herself, before sitting down to plan our next activities.  The participants included our indispensable Pina, accompanied by Gianfranco, the faithful supporters Paolo and Adriano, Monica, naturally, and the new entries in our group Consuelo, Paola, Massimo (I’m not absolutely certain if I got the name right), Marco and me (Marcella).

Everyone was full of ideas and projects to develop: to offer Italian lessons at the Casetta Rossa in Garbatella for foreign immigrants and in particular Brazilians; Portuguese lessons; to put into action a special collaboration with Musica Incontro (which has a big space where art and music can be made without constraints), perhaps beginning with samba lessons held by our Brazilian friend Vau, who arrives in Rome in December; and continuing with other such activities and demonstrations (theater, concerts, exhibits, etc.).  We also discussed once again the idea of a project for sustainable tourism, to be developed with a travel agency such as Viaggi e Miraggi, with the fundamental support of the ICBIE in Salvador, along with many other initiatives and events for fundraising, etc.

In the meantime, we planned for our participation in the next event on Saturday, October 4th, when, at the American Overseas School on the Via Cassia, the long awaited photography exhibit of the Alagodos will be inaugurated, exactly one year after Julio and Bigode painted their big mural with the stilt houses on a wall of the school.  A good number of ICBIE representatives will attend, as it is an opportunity to reinforce the ongoing collaboration between the ICBIE and AOSR, with their “Bridge to Bahia” project.

One absolute priority is to register ICBIE Italia in the regional directory of NGOs and with the Italian Tax Bureau, to gain access to the long-awaited “5 per 1000″ (where taxpayers can devolve 0.5% of their taxes to an NGO).  We are compiling a full report of our activities, to demonstrate the work of ICBIE Italia in both Italy and in the Lazio region, and we hope to receive this extremely important official recognition within the shortest possible time.  In short, a lot of energy and good will, aiming to help, sustain and encourage, from afar, the wonderful and precious work of the ICBIE in Salvador.  Let’s go, we’re a team, and as they say, strength comes in numbers!!!!                         Marcella