Happy Christmas from GVI Phoenix in Brazil
Friday saw the last day of term at GVI Phoenix project in Mata Escura in Salvador. With the hard work of this year's volunteers (thankyou!), enrollment at the school has increased from 12 children when we started in May to 51 children at present. GVI Charitable Trust funding has created 4 new classrooms, a new, more hygenic kitchen, a football pitch and a new playground for the children to enjoy. 
The atmosphere has completely changed, from a forgotten and neglected school to a vibrant, fun, educational environment, always full of laughter. End of term was marked with a huge Christmas party, which after all of the progress of the past year was quite an emotional affair - we don't know if it was an overdose of guarana and fairy cakes, but there were tears shed! 
The children enjoyed decorating cup cakes in the morning, egg and spoon races, musical chairs, a first oportunity to use the new playground, hot dogs and capped the whole afternoon off with a massive water fight. Project manager Emma was the first to be dragged into the path of the hose pipe and summarily drenched.
She was quickly followed by local school director Eraldo, intern Adam, cook Sonia and then the volunteers - who tried in vain to escape! It was a fantastic day and a perfect end to a fabulous year in Mata Escura. Merry Christmas to all and roll on 2011!!
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