"Since I have known the reality and difficulties faced by the missionary communities of the Alto Rio Negro, I have felt the call to look for strategies to strengthen the actions carried out on the ground," explained Sister Silvia Aparecida da Silva, Executive Director of RSB. "The collaboration with 'Pluriforme' and the Armed Forces has been constant and has helped us reach the community of Maturacá to deliver the donations we have obtained," she continued.
By the end of this year, therefore, about 30 boxes, containing clothing, were delivered, all destined for the Salesian Mission in Maturacá. Students, educators, and missionaries were mobilized to distribute the goods, with all the geographical difficulties of the region.
"We are extremely grateful for this important gesture made by the RSB," said Fr. Wellington Abreu, local Salesian Mission Representative. "Clothing is often not considered a priority, but instead when the community received these uniforms they were really enthusiastic. The children can now have an extra shirt and shorts to go to school. Some families have eight or nine children, and giving them new clothes is often a big challenge. Clothing is also crucial for hunters and fishermen, who can now have adequate clothing to do their work. Here we are very close to the Pico da Neblina and when it rains the temperature drops a lot. So it was a great help for them to receive jackets, sweaters, and long-sleeved shirts," Fr. Abreu added.
Many in the Maturacá community said they were happy and relieved to have received this donation. "They are really very nice uniforms and it was a joy for the families to see their children in new uniforms," said Maciel Figueiredo Mendonça, a teacher at the "Immaculate Conception" State Indigenous School in Maturacá and a member of the English language class at the Salesian Mission.
"For me, receiving this donation really meant a lot. For parents who have many children, it is not easy to buy new clothes. But now we can have very good quality uniforms," remarked Everton de Souza Maia, a student at Immaculate Conception School. "Inaha Pëwë," thank you very much in Yanomani language, the young student then added.
"Operation Maturacá" was launched in 2018 and continued in 2020, before the pandemic began. The spread of Covid-19 forced a halt to the project, which was successfully resumed in 2022.
