Since December of 2016, the Fraternidade – International Humanitarian Federation works together with the native Venezuelan refugees that reached the city of Boa Vista-RR, Brazil, looking for a new chance of life. The native shelter Pintolândia, administered by Fraternidade, has taken in approximately 600 of these refugees, the greater part of which are of the Warao tribe, coming from the Orinoco delta, located in the Northeastern area of Venezuela.
As time went by and in daily interactions in this refuge situation, a beautiful connection of trust was built, as well as a mutual learning process between the natives and the missionaries of Fraternidade.
The presence of Fraternidade and its missionaries, with their volunteer work, with their attention focused on the needs of those in the shelter, as well as bringing about some order, served as an example and stimulated the natives themselves into being concerned about and taking care of relationships within the shelter.
Inside the shelter, the natives have formed a traditional social organization, divided into nine groups, led by aidamos (chiefs), whose goal is to encourage a harmonious relationship among their members. They take on responsibilities such as assisting in legal matters, distributing food, clothing, hygiene products, and among other tasks, they also collaborate so that the native children grow and develop their education, with mutual respect, in this new life context.
The native Eulígio Baez Tejerina, one of the aidamos of the Pintolândia shelter, is considered an example of integrity and of effort. Besides being the leader of a native group, with great attention and respect, he sees that his children participate in the Regular Education System of Boa Vista. This father makes four trips, on bicycle, to take and bring back his children from school and even helps them in their school homework, in Portuguese – a language still quite new to all the natives.
Eulígio inspired all those of the shelter to have the Municipal Education Network to honor him as “Father scores 10”, in this way, showing that each daily effort, maintaining their traditions and also adapting to the new, is worth it and strengthens the hope for a new life, for a new beginning.
