Project Report
| Oct 9, 2014
Protecting the forest and building community
By Katie Weintraub | Partnership Manager
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On September 23, the Spring Equinox, students and teachers from local schools came to Sinal to celebrate not only the first day of spring but also a new cycle of growth for Sinal das Criancas. We our new reforestation project, in which the young students will be part of the replanting of native Atlantic Forest trees-- species that have been identified as endangered by recent Brazilian legislation. They will help collect seeds, work in the nursery, and replant the saplings as they learn about the importance of conservation in their local lands. The project will begin with reforesting one of Sinal's nature trails, and the children will help in marking the endangered species we are protecting along the walking path.
In addition, our program focuses on empowering local youth to become protagonists in the social and environmental issues of the community of Santo Antonio. During the children's visit on the Spring Equinox, they were given an orientation of Sinal's property through a lesson on the cyclical pattern of nature and how we as humans can respect instead of destroy this cycle. They visited the dry toilet, the compost piles, and the natural bamboo treatment station, seeing how human waste can be transformed into nutrients for the plants we need. The kids are also learning about the connection between local plants and agriculture with the traditional foods and festivals of their community. Using music and theatre, we are teaching the importance of respect between man and nature, as well as the personal value each one has in preserving the environment.
![Map of endangered trees on our reforestation trail]()
Map of endangered trees on our reforestation trail
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Jul 11, 2014
Street Football World at SINAL
By THAIS R CORRAL | Coordinator
![the best of sports]()
the best of sports
The World Cup brought thousands of foreigners from all over the World to Brasil. At SINAL we hosted the Forum Future Goals 2014 - Youth Forum on Football for Social Change. 35 inspiring young people from 22 different countries were part of the event. Together, they explored how football has the potential to strengthen communities and create social change. Each participant represented a grassroots organisation from their local community that uses football to engage young people and teach them valuable life skills, whether it be preventing HIV/AIDS in Africa, fighting racism in Europe, or promoting gender equality in Latin America.
They were at SINAL from the 25th June till July 1st and had the opportunity to interact with the local community Santo Antonio. Almost every day there was an activity that they did together. They played football 3, a type of football that emphasizes collaboration instead of competition. The whole experience was very positive and several of the participants brought interesting lessons to their countries showed that indeed football can be a tool for changing the world
![Playing Football 3 for collaboration]()
Playing Football 3 for collaboration
![At the top of the mounting celebratin life]()
At the top of the mounting celebratin life
![Changing the world through football]()
Changing the world through football
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Apr 21, 2014
Planting Trees and Discovering Trails
By Thais Corral | coordinator
![Planting Trees]()
Planting Trees
SINAL is located in Mata Atlantica, one of the hotspots for biodiversity. Mata Atlantica is also one of the most endangered biomas of Brasil. Only 7 % is left. It is located on the coast and one of the most urbanized areas of Brazil.
One of the missions of SINAL is to promote initiatives to restore the ecosystem. SINAL for children educate them to know about the Mata Atlantica, its fauna and flora. Children are encourage to walk through trails and learn about the names of birds, trees, pick fruits. They also participate in activities to plant trees and prepare the nursary.
SINAL is a living laboratory where volunteers from all over the world share their love for nature and other abilities with local children who do not have access to those resources One of the recurrent activities is tree planting and also collecting garbage.
Stimulating the expression of children with art is also one of the activities at SINAL. Children are estimulated to be creative and to reuse garbage materials to create their own toys. This year to celebrate Earth Day on April 22, we will be organizing a gathering with children in which they will paint how they want to express our Earth taking from the experience at SINAL, which is surrounded by a reach nature.
![Preparing a nursery]()
Preparing a nursery
![preparing the nursery]()
preparing the nursery
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