FAVELA HISTORIA

Have you heard a similar story ? If you had, this may be the family he's looking for.

Brazil

"I met this man in Brazil. I was working for a NGO there, but that day, I got lost in the wrong neighborhood and I ran into trouble. He saved my life telling I was a friend of him. He told me his story and asked me to spread it.

Story of Mestre Coração (Master Heart)

"My nickname is "coraçao"(heart in English). I live hidden because I have a contract on my head. I want you to know the story of my family.

It begins in the earlies 80s in a favela called "a Rocinha" in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro in Brasil. Me and my brothers (boca boca and cabelinho)wewere born in this neighborhood. We learnt the life in the very street da Rocinha. Our main activity was to play futebol and capoeira.It happened we had to make some money by going cleaning the shoes of rich people in the center of Rio. It was rough days and we barely went to school because we had to make our family live. However, my father, Ginga,who was a great capoeira master, passed me through capoeira strong values of respect and discipline. Our mother, Lucia, taught us that one day, everything will change. I wish that day never came.

Senhor Rodrigo

Senhor Rodrigo was a rich man, owning a textil manufacture in the suburbs of Rio de Janeiro. Part of the local economy was living only because of him. Rodrigo was no strong man physically but he had the power of life and death on every people in this area.

We had our parents working for Rodrigo in the factory.
When we became older, my brothers and I managed to be hired in the plant due to our strenght and stamina. At the beginning we were thankful with Rodrigo because we had the impression of being someone by working. Our father was proud but kept telling us to be careful with Rodrigo, there were strange stories about people diseappering.

The clients were putting a lot of pressure on Rodrigo shoulders to have products on time and we had to work till midnight sometimes and of course the wage remained the same... The workdays were very hard but we could not complain fearing to be fired knowing that at least half of the population of a Rochinha wanted to work for Rodrigo. However, during our lunch breaks, we managed to played some capoeira. Rodrigo did not say anything as long as we were productive.

Yet one day, we had a problem. A new employee came in and entered the roda. This guy was strong, so was his game. My father was not there, Rodrigo had him to ensure a delivery downtown. The game became violent when he suddenly punched Boca Boca, the weakest of us in capoeira. I entered the roda to venge my brother. After a strong play, I kicked the man face toughly, he fainted. One of the guards of Rodrigo saw the scene. He called Rodrigo and the other guards. When they all arrived, we were the four of us (my mother included) facing the bunch of guards armed with truncheons. Unfortunately for us, the guy was Rodrigo's favorite cousin. When Rodrigo saw, he ordered his boys to get rid of us. It was the order they were awaiting. They came violently to start the fight, fortunaly capoeira had made us strong fighters..After a rough battle, we managed to get rid of them. Boca Boca was slightly injured and Cabelinho was all right as I was. Only Rodrigo was left with his cousin. Rodrigo was afraid of what he saw and took his gun out to protect him. My mother tried to interfere to protect her family, she went slowly to Rodrigo telling him to put his gun down. The guy was nervous...The shot broke the tension as the sound of a body falling...

We were stock on our feet, we could not realize what just happened. Our mother was laying on the ground with no move. Rodrigo mumbled something and escaped. We approached our mom telling that she will be safe her that she had to remain calm while we tried to get some help. At this moment, our father arrived. When he saw his wife on the ground, he could hardly breath, he kneed down to her wipping, wispering her to remain calm. She did.

After the burial of our mother, we tried to accuse Rodrigo for the murder of our mother but he had enough connection in the police to remain innocent. Despite his burning anger, our father remained very calm and seemed to know what he had to do.

One night, he diseappeared letting us the money he saved with a paper note telling us to go away of Rio.
Me and my brother, we got separated as the willings of our dad.

Later, we learnt that Rodrigo had been murdered in his sleep the night our father left us.

My hidding

From that day, we also learnt that the family of Rodrigo was promising a good reward for the responsible of the murder of Rodrigo. I do not know if my father and my brothers are still alive. I do not have the means to try to contact them and I cannot try to spread my story here, the reward could make anyone happy in here. But you are a foreigner who can help me. If you and your friends, could spread my story by any means you have, maybe one day, I will find them again.

If you want to help, please send this blog to your friends.