*~*Rafael*~* Rafael is my new writing buddy since the end of January 2002. He´s 12 years old and lives in the orphanage "Lar Carolina" near Sao Paulo/Brazil. On March 19th, 2002 I´ve got my first letter from him :-)))))) I´ll tell you soon a little bit more about him. History of the orphanage Lar Carolina: The orphanage had its origins when the married couple Catarina and Neno decided to adopt the handicapped child Carolina in 1991. Since then then orphanage has grown to be the home for currently 110 children and adolescents. Catarina, Neno and "their kids" live at Embu, a small town at the outskirts of Sao Paulo in Brazil. Even though the orphanage is fully registered as a non-profit home and complies with all child welfare and other laws, it does not receive any financial support from the government. Lar Carolina is solely supported by private citizens and corporations. The majority of donations comes from local supporters who donate food, clothes and other necessieties. Financial support from Germany has allowed the completion of a variety of important projects. However, the monthly expenses still cannot be covered from regular supporters which means that the future of Lar Carolina is still very uncertain. Of the 110 children living at Carolina, about 1/3 each attend nursery school/kindergarden, elementary school and high school. Besides that 6 infants and 2 children with special needs require constant attention at Carolina. Eight of the adolescents also attend a a computer course offered by the city of Embu. Lar Carolina is also in the process of setting up a bakery and mechanics shop to teach the adolescents job skills and provide a sorce of income for the orphanage. Besides the couple Catarina and Neno, there are 21 employees (some part-time) assisting with all necessary tasks from cooking to cleaning and doing the laundry. And they all have a big heart to share their love and create a very friendly and close-knit atmosphere at Carolina. Contrary to staterun orphanages siblings are not separated at Lar Carolina and all children can remain at Carolina until they have completed their studies and are able to start their own life independent from Carolina. This will help them to gain the security and safe environment to attaend school regularly and get a perspective for the future. (c) Lar Carolina Bulletin Board Further information about the orphanage "Lar Carolina" where he´s living, on the following websites: Lar Carolina (English, German & Portuguese) Lar Carolina Bulletin Board (English & German) Hugs and Smiles for Orphans (English) Kinderheim Carolina und ihre Geschwister (German) NEWS FROM RAFAEL In one of his last letters Rafael told me this: Hello, Mandy, I'm 12 now and I was very happy with the letter you sent me. God bless you and your family and a happy birthday to your grandma. I practice "capoeira" (translator's note: it's an Afro-Brazilian kind of self-defense) and in my free time I like playing with my friends in Lar Carolina. I'm on primary school, 3rd year, and I... (? ->sorry, impossible to understand some words here because of his handwriting)... Maths, and I'm very well. Thanks for everything you sent me. Kisses and hugs for you, Mandy. I've received a new photo of Rafael. It was taken in December 2002. He's the second boy from right. And yet another photo of the Lar Carolina kids, taken on December 20, 2002. That was the day when the kids got their christmas gifts :)