April 2016
When Joanie and I were in Camaqua, Brazil, recently, our friend and former president of Betania, Carlos de Paiva, took us to visit Fazenda Emanuel, located on the grounds of the former Bethany school.
Confronted by the desperate condition of children and their families in rural areas around the Brazilian city of Camaqua, Marco and Claudia van de Merwe, who have worked with both WEC and Bethany, were compelled to do something. At the time they were looking for a place to begin the ministry, the Bethany property became available, and Fazenda Emanuel (Emmanuel Farm) was born.
The vision of Fazenda Emanuel is to provide poor rural children, adolescents, and their families living on the margins of society the opportunity to enjoy better social conditions and quality of life through education, vocational training, and spiritual formation. In the rural areas they serve, 80% of the children do not continue in school beyond the 4th grade, and in another, only 50% go beyond 9th grade. As a result, they are trapped in cycles of poverty and deprivation, without the necessary skills to earn a viable living. By raising their awareness of the need for regular attendance at school in order to achieve higher levels of education and the ability to develop vocational skills, they hope to improve the children's lives and give them hope for a better future.
At present, Marco and Claudia work with over fifty children, ages three through nineteen, and their families. They assist with homework, provide tutoring, teach them computer skills, and engage with them in social and cultural activities such as sports, games, crafts, music, theatre, and dance. In all of these ways, they help them grow intellectually, physically, emotionally, socially, and, most important, spiritually.
In order to meet government regulations, Fazenda Emanuel is required to upgrade the kitchen, where meals are prepared for the children. Renovations have begun but cannot be completed because of lack of funds. Our aim is to raise the funds needed to finish the work.
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Alec D. Brooks
President
