Monday October 16th was an historic day for Meninadança – the day three of the girls from our Pink Houses went to the British Parliament, moving people to tears with a dance that spoke about childhoods stolen – and finding hope when all seemed lost.
The event was the culmination of 17 days in which Rany, 14, Moany, 13, and Maluiza, 15, performed their dance musical Stones & Flowers 23 times to nearly 4,000 people, in churches, theatres, halls and schools. Thank you to everyone who came to see them during their time here.
The event in the Houses of Parliament was attended by MPs, representatives from the foreign office, Brazil and Latin America desks and from the Brazilian Embassy as well as many others, and hosted by Julie Marson MP. Julie also spoke, as well as Matt Roper and Pink House coordinator Keyla Dutra.
Also present were representatives from the major Brazilian TV channels, as well as Sky Kids FYI and children’s newspaper First News.Many were deeply moved by what they saw and heard – and we believe it will be the start of many new doors being opened and new opportunities as more people hear about our cause and work, and in our efforts to change the lives of girls in Brazil from the top down.
Here are some of the highlights in images and words…
“I am particularly inspired by the practical help, the empowering of young girls and women to change their own lives but also to creat cultural change in Brazil that means that this is not acceptable. Violence against women and girls, child sexual exploitation is not acceptable and we do not accept it.”
Julie Marson MP
“We won’t allow ourselves to be contaminated by this system, we are going to fight against this culture. And now even moreso because we now have people who are for us in this nation. Nothing is stronger than all of us together.”
Keyla Dutra
“Brazil’s constitution says these girls should be the absolute priority, but what we see is that they are often the last in anybody’s priorities. That’s why we are here. The normalisation of child sexual exploitation needs to change.”
Matt Roper
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