Best Christmas gift

We rejoice with our narrator Neti and the Mauá community in São Paulo who have had a last minute reprieve from being forcibly evicted. “Our huge thanks,” says Neti, our Connect2 narrator. “All these families here… have somewhere to spend Christmas and New Year.” It’s the best gift they could have had.

In a cliffhanger decision, following campaigning by over 200 families backed by a 4000-strong CAFOD petition, authorities in São Paulo have agreed to buy the building where around 1000 people have been living for years. It will now become proper social housing. “We have taken a big step forward,” says Neti. “It is a big achievement. I want to thank you for all you have done to help us to stay in this building, in our Mauá community.” “It is a landmark victory,” says CAFOD’s Emily Mulville. “This news gives hope to many other vulnerable and homeless families in poor urban areas across São Paulo who are fighting for their right to decent housing.” Neti sent us a video message in which she beams with joy:

“Look at my smile! I am so happy knowing that our supporters are not limited by frontiers. We are very grateful to you all, to CAFOD, and to everyone that supports CAFOD…thanks to this achievement, and thanks to God, our families will be able to have a good Christmas.”

On behalf of all the people of Mauá, thank you and Happy Christmas!

Feliz Natal!

Photo: Anderson Barbosa

We’re going to have a big party! Mauá resident Thiago has sent his own Christmas greeting from Brazil, celebrating the news that his community will not be forced onto the streets. “It has been a complicated situation,” says Thiago. “We didn’t know if we would be able to stay or not. Thank God, after a hard struggle, we have managed to secure our home, our roof. “Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Can you imagine how it would be for me, living with a disability, on the street? “We are going to have a big party here, to celebrate Christmas of course, and our home too. Without a roof over our heads, it would have been very difficult for us to celebrate. “Thank you. You are part of our family too, even though you are far away.”

Here are some of the Christmas cards sent from Brazil to Connect2 friends and supporters in England and Wales Many thanks and Happy Christmas from all of us in the CAFOD Connect2 team as well!