Now, it is rare to find anything living in the river, as it is
so full of rubbish and waste - and every day this stinking pile
is getting bigger, as the favela is on the outskirts of the
historic city of Olinda (ironically renowned for its beauty by
tourists). Cariannie, aged just 11, tells me; “When children
bathe in the river now they get really sick afterwards.” And,
with winter just beginning, that means it has started raining …
lots!! The rubbish has a major negative effect on the water
drainage systems in the community. Two days ago it rained so
much the river burst its banks, leaving hundreds of homes in
Peixinhos submerged in up to three feet of filthy water. Many of
the children have spent the last few days helping their parents
to keep items in their home dry and protect chickens, pigs and
dogs. Grasinana, aged eight, tells me the water always goes in
to her home when it rains – it pains me to think that these
children are going home every day to damp, muddy houses. No
doubt this is why “Dia de Terr