Many many stories are told in Brazil as a way of life. The most popular – especially with the children – is that of the Boto – the amazon river dolphin – an enchanted dolphin that shapeshifts into a handsome man – a seducer of young women!
Water here is a conduit to education – stories about life – realities – hardship – they can all be used to educate – to bring change & improvement to life. Everywhere you go in Belém huge banners hang from the sides of buildings, and posters adorn bathroom walls about Dengue Fever, which is transmitted by mosquito and affects millions every year. As yet there is no vaccine so prevention is sought simply by educating, to reduce exposure in the hope to improve the health problems along the river.
There is another very important issue to be addressed. Tássila, a member of AmazonArt, also works with groups of women helping to guide them through recovery after terrible accidents resulting from contact with open motors (trapping their hair) …
Workshops to educate about safety around open motors on boats
Tássila uses art as a medium of therapy. Painting, writing music, playing music, about your surrounding and experiences is a powerful method of recovery.
