Serving the most excluded

The first experience with homeless people took place in December 2012, when the members of the Network-of-Light of Nova Friburgo, city of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, offered a Christmas supper. From that moment on, once a month, the group gathers in Getulio Vargas square and leaves to develop the service activities.

A round in the city

The group, composed by six people, leave in private cars for a round service in the city, when they visit five different sectors downtown and also in the district of Conselheiro Paulino. Among the activities developed are: registry of the homeless people, medical and psychological assistance, interviews, spiritual counseling, nail-trimming and haircut, and distribution of snacks (sandwich, fruits and something to drink, hot chocolate in wintertime and juice in summertime). The group also makes the distribution of clothes, footwear, blankets and hygiene kits. The donations come from different sources, especially by means of friends of the members of the Network-of-Light who contact the group.

Homeless people

In each place covered, the group meets homeless people in various situations. They try to establish contact with each one of them, also a dialog, and they always pray hand in hand. The servers understand that a fraternal hug, a smile, a handshake, are always valuable tools of union and fraternity. The spiritual assistance occurs through words of comfort, encouragement, hope, but especially by means of prayer they say at the end of each contact.

Chemical dependence

According to the coordinators, chemical dependence is the main characteristic of this group. Most addicts consume alcohol and some are also drug-users. Some have lost their families or were abandoned by them and others lost their Jobs.

When the intention of leaving the situation is identified, the Network-of-Light team of Nova Friburgo seeks to facilitate the entry of the homeless person in some institution of recovery of chemical dependents. They always seek to know the trajectory of each one and ask if they want to change their lives.

Referrals

With this activity of selection, two ex-homeless persons have been referred to institutions connected to the Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation. One was received by the Community-of-Light of the New Earth and another in the Sanctuary of the Kingdoms, both located in the highland region of Rio de Janeiro, where the group has the help of a psychiatrist, a member of the Network-of-Light.

Collaboration

Membros do grupo Rede-Luz no Santuário dos Reinos

Not all the members of the Network-of-Light group work directly in the activities on the streets; some collaborate through donations. Other people of the local society, such as university graduation students and people that are part of other religious segments, also participate.

“The main therapy is through prayer, but when we identify some brother with a health problem, who needs a more urgente assistance, we take them to the city hospital, where many have already been interned, treated and even submitted to surgery with the help of the group. We have a doctor in the group, who unfortunately is not participating anymore due to health problems. We are currently in need of this support”, said Wantuil Araújo one of the coordinators of the group.

Nilson Geraldo, another coordinator of the Network-of-Light group, explains what represents to those assisted the presence of a group like this one, “Our presence represents an encouragement. They are all thankful for our contact. Not only for the reception of a coat or of a little sandwich, but especially for the handshake, for the warm and fraternal hug. They recover their identity by being considered as a human being and by feeding hopes of a better day tomorrow. They recognize the group at each visit and many get touched. Nevertheless, it is emphasized that the presence of the group is above all the presence of God, who never leaves them abandoned”.

Projects

The  participants of the Network-of-Light group continue the task with intense motivation, aiming at perfecting the work through integration with other groups of society. They inform that the project is for that to become a weekly activity, at a fixed place, with structure for showers, medical, dental and psychological assistance, with voluntary professionals. They also tell that after each task they feel stronger with the certainty that God is present.

Identity recovery

João Carlos is a homeless person in the district of Conselheiro Paulino. His mother lives in the neighboring town of Carmo, but he cannot live with the family. He is jobless and has lost all his documents. Learning about this situation, the group of Network-of-Light decided to help. “We have a lawyer in the group and he managed to recover a copy of the document of birth in the home town of João Carlos. This document was vital to obtain the other necessary documents, such as voting card, Physical person registry and working card”, said Wantuil.

For the joy of the whole group, after the regularization of the documents, João managed to rent a room to spend the nights. The cost of rent he manages by gathering and selling cardboard, together with the help of the group to support him in this expenses. The Network-of-Light group also managed to obtain from a restaurant the provision of a packed lunch for him three times a week.

“The abandonment of these brothers and sisters by the public sectors make them feel protected by the presence of the group. There are cases of pharmaceutics, managers, theologians, musicians, artisans and criminals, all seeking an opportunity of recovery. But what prevails is the need of self-esteem and of forgiveness”, explained Wantuil.

Information:

redeluzriodejaneiro@fraterinternacional.org