It’s time to sleep. Here in Stockholm, it’s already 11:55 PM, five hours ahead of Brazil. The time zone still leaves me a bit dizzy, but my mind is full of reflections on the day. I am here to conclude the final phase of the international conferences. I believe it was essential to honor the countries that have done excellent work in the regional conferences. As a bonus, I took the opportunity to inaugurate 8 new countries in our network. Now, CUFA is officially present in 49 countries, something that, a few years ago, would have been unimaginable.
I was warmly welcomed by brothers Luís Carlos and Bruno Barbosa, rare figures who formed an incredible team with Amanda and Tubarão, managing CUFA’s actions in several cities in Sweden. Today, we visited some community leaders who face challenges very similar to those in our favelas, although the context is different. In some of these areas, the mail can’t even get in due to violence, a globalized reality. The communities are largely made up of migrants from countries like Somalia and Iraq. Although they are not favelas like those in Brazil, the rise of violence and the lack of social integration are concerning.
We also visited the fields where the Taça das Favelas will take place in 2025. It’s impressive how this competition, which was born in our neighborhoods, has expanded and is now being replicated in so many corners of the world. Although the realities are distinct, the stories of overcoming obstacles and daily challenges are universal. Sharing our achievements and learnings from nearly 30 years of history is always enriching.
The enthusiasm of the local leaders as they listened to and spoke about our experiences was moving. The conversations flowed naturally, and their eyes sparkled when we mentioned figures like Ronaldinho or the transformative power of rap. This intercultural dialogue is the bridge that connects our realities, serving as a perfect warm-up for the challenges that would come later.
In the afternoon, we had a meeting with the Brazilian ambassador, Maria Fontenele Reis, who received us with great warmth and interest. No matter how connected diplomats are to their duties, it is inevitable that the nostalgia for Brazil emerges when we bring live news in light and relaxed conversations. This creates an immediate connection, a mix of nostalgia and pride. After some productive discussions, we secured important partnerships, and she committed to meeting with our team and the city’s mayor next week. The goal? To discuss the G20 Social and also the Favelas, where over 100 mayors from cities around the world will gather to discuss urban challenges in Rio on November 14, 15, and 16.
As I write this, my phone won’t stop ringing; I’m being summoned to meet with the CUFA teams here. In this case, there won’t be time to tell the rest of the story. I’ll finish tomorrow.”Fui”.
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