Vila Isabel is a village in the city of Betim, in Minas Gerais – one of the 26 states of Brazil. It was born out of a Health Care facility for the treatment of leprosy built in the previous century by the Brazilian government.
Most of the people at work age are unemployed or make a living out of occasional low paid jobs. Many of the families live with no more than the allowance of approximately Cd$ 50.00 received from the government on a monthly basis – as long as the families ensure that their children attend school.
The majority of the population lives in unsafe and unhealthy. Many of these houses have no floor - it is all sand and rocks. It turns to mud when the rain season comes.
Inside them, people try to build a life but this is often not easy. Some of these families have no fridge or range. Actually, for some of them it would make no difference if they had a fridge or a range because they they wouldn’t be able to pay the utilities’ bills.
As it uses to happen in under-developed countries, family planning is a message that doesn’t go far enough: it is not unusual to find families with 5 or more children.
Nonetheless, there is love and joy in the village, too. Families embrace the challenges together and parents work around the clock to bring a ray of hope to their children. Their endurance is something that cannot be pictured with words only.
They keep working, smiling, living and loving - hoping that someone or something may somehow easy up a little bit their tremendous challenges
Getting there
Vila Isabel (MG, Brazil) and Victoria (BC, Canada) are approximately 11000 kms apart one to the other. We would love to get your visit over there but we realize that not everyone can afford it.
Luckily, you can always go there digitally. To see Vila Isabel in Google Maps just click here. If you have Google Earth installed you can also click here.
Also, this map bellow shows where Vila Santa Isabel is (look for the green “Colonia Santa Isabel” name) and how close this is to the Paraopeba River.
Most of the people at work age are unemployed or make a living out of occasional low paid jobs. Many of the families live with no more than the allowance of approximately Cd$ 50.00 received from the government on a monthly basis – as long as the families ensure that their children attend school.
The majority of the population lives in unsafe and unhealthy. Many of these houses have no floor - it is all sand and rocks. It turns to mud when the rain season comes.
Inside them, people try to build a life but this is often not easy. Some of these families have no fridge or range. Actually, for some of them it would make no difference if they had a fridge or a range because they they wouldn’t be able to pay the utilities’ bills.
As it uses to happen in under-developed countries, family planning is a message that doesn’t go far enough: it is not unusual to find families with 5 or more children.
Nonetheless, there is love and joy in the village, too. Families embrace the challenges together and parents work around the clock to bring a ray of hope to their children. Their endurance is something that cannot be pictured with words only.
They keep working, smiling, living and loving - hoping that someone or something may somehow easy up a little bit their tremendous challenges
Getting there
Vila Isabel (MG, Brazil) and Victoria (BC, Canada) are approximately 11000 kms apart one to the other. We would love to get your visit over there but we realize that not everyone can afford it.
Luckily, you can always go there digitally. To see Vila Isabel in Google Maps just click here. If you have Google Earth installed you can also click here.
Also, this map bellow shows where Vila Santa Isabel is (look for the green “Colonia Santa Isabel” name) and how close this is to the Paraopeba River.
Overview
This is the web gathering space for supporters, volunteers and everyone involved with the initiatives of Vila Isabel Charitable Society.
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