January 20, 2023  Projeto Ruas ("Project Street") in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Every city in the world, including HK, has people who sleep on the streets, but in Rio this problem is extreme.
There are more than 100 people - men, women and children - sleeping on the streets within 5 mins walk of my hotel in Rio.
And the number for the whole city is said to be around 20,000

This morning I took this photo of a mother with her son:

A few days ago I took this photo, outside a local church:

And this one, outside a park in front of the church:

But notice this next photo (not taken by myself) outside the same park, with people from above two photos:

In above photo the street sleepers are taking part in an activity to give them hope!

Same in this photo in another location:

The above activities are two of the daily, make that nightly, activities arranged by the NGO "Projeto Ruas" ("Street Project") whose website is here (Google can translate from Portuguese).

Last night I attended the NGO's usual Thursday night activity in yet another area:

Sadly, here in Rio, not many groups, even churches, are doing what Projeto Ruas is doing: not just providing meals, but giving street sleepers motivation and hope and help to find accommodation and jobs ...and recover their dignity.

My hope is that HK, one of the most blessed places in the world, can do something to help Projeto Ruas in Brazil. 

Projeto Ruas has a budget of about HK$60,000 per month .... but it is struggling. It receives nothing from the government.... and because of Covid, its donations have declined to around HK$30,000 per month. It urgently needs HK$30,000 per month to keep going until local donations increase again.

If any friends in HK would like to help Projeto Ruas pls note my Hang Seng details:
Name: Wotherspoon John David
Account Number: 761-8-000496.

This is not a MercyHK project. Please do not send donations to MercyHK or to St Peter's.
And I cannot issue receipts for donations.

But this is a MERCY project .... and I will send a personal thank you to anyone who helps Projeto Ruas.

Update - Jan 22: This morning after Mass I took this photo right outside the church. Can you see 6 people? (5 men and 1 woman)

Update - January 29 in Sao Paulo - in park across road from hotel where I am staying:

I bought them some food from nearby Burger King

Update Jan 31- My goodbye visit before leaving Sao Paulo:

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