by Jennifer Cabral
By: Jennifer Cabral
Tags: Rivers, Brazil, Child Labor, Stories

While visiting the vilage corrego do Andre in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, Wania Isabel da Silva, 13, followed by her brothers Wando Pereira da Silva (9) and Gracemar Apolinario da Rocha, 4, insisted for me to follow her to her favorite place. I thought she would take me to the river that runs beside her house. The River Sao Joao is famous in the area for the fishing it provides. To my surprise the children took me to a dirt road in the opposite direction of the river’s border.

I asked them why they wouldn’t swim on such a sunny afternoon. I wasn’t expecting to hear that the river was polluted. For me, those were the clearest waters I had ever seen. But for years, the residents in the area have been noticing the contamination of the river by the rareness of the fish. Sundenly, we were interrupted by the youngest brother, Gracemar, saying a phrase thrown in the wind: “My father likes Brazilian Rum”. Mentioning the reason why his father left the family and moved away to another town. When asked if the father visited them, they said no.

Later the oldest brother, Wando, took me to the house his father had built. It was abandoned. They had moved to the house next door where their grandmother, Dona Teresa, gladly welcomed her daughter and three kids. As we reached an immense tree with it’s enourmous top and shade I understood why Liliam liked that place. She said she would love to have a picnic there one day. She probably never had the chance. According to the family plans, Liliam was being sent away to live with her aunt in a big city where she could find better opportunities, not only to study but also, to work. According to Unicef, in 1999, 14.5% of the brazilian girls, ages 10 to 14, worked as maids. Liliam will probably be part of this number.

A BEIRA DO RIO

Enquanto visitava o vilarejo de Corrego do Andre em Minas Gerais, Wania Isabel da Silva, 13, acompanhada de seus dois irmaos Wando Pereira da Silva, 9, e Gracemar Apolinario da Rocha, 4, insistiu para que eu conhecesse o lugar que, segundo ela, era o seu favorito. Esperava que me levasse ao Rio que corre ao lado de sua casa. O Rio Sao Joao e famoso na regiao de Para de Minas, pela pescaria que possibilita. Para minha surpresa as criancas me levaram por uma estrada de terra na direcao oposta as margens do rio.

Perguntei porque nao iriam nadar naquela tarde ensolarada. Fiquei surpresa quando disseram que o rio nao era limpo. Para mim aquelas eram as aguas mais limpas que conhecia. Mas os moradores da regiao ha tempos veem notando a contaminacao do rio e a escassez do peixe. Fomos interrompidos pelo irmao cacula, Gracemar, com uma frase solta ao vento: “Meu pai gosta de cana”. Fazia referencia ao motivo pelo qual o pai havia deixado a familia e se mudado para outro municipio da regiao. Perguntei se o pai os visitava. Disseram que nao. Mais tarde, Wando, o irmao mais velho, me levou ate a casa que o pai havia construido. Estava abandonada. Haviam se mudado para a casa ao lado onde a avo, Dona Teresa, acolheu a filha e os tres netos com satisfacao.

Ao avistarmos uma arvore com enorme copa e sombra entendi porque Liliam gostava daquele lugar. Ela disse que gostaria de fazer um picnic ali algum dia. Provavelmente nao teve chance. Segundo os planos da familia ela se mudaria para a casa de uma tia na cidade grande onde poderia encontrar melhores oportunidades. Infelizmente, nao so de estudos, mas tambem de trabalho. Segund a UNICEF em 1999, 14,5% das meninas entre 10–14 no pais, entraram no mercado de trabalho como empregadas domesticas. Liliam provavelmente sera parte deste numero.