Revarte

In Fortaleza, Alice decided she wanted to do something different. She had just retired and most people her age would probably try traveling or joining a yoga class. She didn’t. Alice Domenech had the idea of getting as many books as she could, with everyone she knew and was willing to help, and open a library for children.

She called the place Revarte. It started slowly but, today, they need more space and book shelves because they have more books than they thought they would ever have. Alice signed up all the kids that wanted to read the books and they would only be allowed in if they were all going to school regurlaly.

Today, apart from the reading room, they also have judo, Spanish and music lessons. All free, all completely full.

And when my friend Jullyanna had the idea of going there to give the kids some percussion lessons, I was up for the challenge. Our group had 10 people and we thought percussion because we are all from the most vibrant, musical country. We thought they would be naturally good at it. And we were not mistaken.

First day was only about telling them our plans and how we wanted our lessons to work. We asked them about music, what they enjoy listening to and if they would like to start a percussion class with us. They seemed a bit shy at first. But it was like one of the best moments in our lives, I am sure, when we arrived there for our second day and we could see some of the kids carrying some cans and pots they brought from home, all attached together and hitting them with sticks.

They were already making noise, they were making music.

And it went on for four weeks.