Projeto Queto fights for sustainable program

After a very violent confronting battle between the Rio de Janeiro military police and local organized crime of the surrounding hills of Sampaio, it took a while before Projeto Queto got back on track with the workshops. Nevertheless, Projeto Queto as being the only artistic and cultural centre in the area stands strong and faces the every day difficulties with pride and strength.

The helicopter that was shot out of the sky and fell on the Sampaio soccer field, caused a wave of repressing police surveillance that made it difficult to pick up daily life as if nothing had happened and a depressing energy spread in the neighborhood. The positive side of this is that many more youths of the area immediately wanted to participate in the activities of Projeto Queto. The cultural activities seemed to be the only hope the inhabitants of Morro do Queto had.

The impact that the activities of Projeto Queto have in the community of Morro do Queto, Sampaio, are sometimes difficult to identify, but the visible process of change is steady and slowly heading forwards. These are achievements that make us proud of the work we do all together, and give us the strength to believe in what we do and never give up.

One of the many examples: Many kids had never used a computer in their lives, but are now able to edit photographs in Photoshop, transform them in a print and produce a printed textile. Projeto Queto is only but a few steps away from professionalization, but yet is lacking so many necessary basic equipment and a decent organizational structure in order to be able to make the steps towards professionalization come true.

The workshops of 2009 in Projeto Queto had a successful ending. The graffiti and audio production workshops already finished earlier, but last Saturday MiCamichula and Projeto Queto celebrated the last week of the Silk Screen workshop with a photo projection of the work done during the workshop. This workshop can be considered as the first step towards a self-sustainable organization that finances part of its social activities through commercial assignments in the silkscreen printing sector.

Projeto Queto and its students are far away from a professional level and need more capacity building trainings and better development of practical and organization skills in 2010.

Although we can speak of a very fruitful year with many great achievements, it is very difficult for the coordinators of Projeto Queto to make sure that the workshops continue without another year of financial support. We are entering 2010 uncertain about the continuity of the workshops, but will do everything to make it happen! Your donation is very much needed!