I have during my travels with Star of Hope met a number of children. In 2005, I was in Montes Claros, Brazil, where it all began for the Star of Hope. At the nice nursery there I met Daniel Almeida, six years young.
Daniel was a lively and cheerful guy. Recognized myself in him from my childhood. Always on the move, could not sit still. Spirited, curious, restless and mischievous. Daniel was ambitious and talented, he was talented in the classroom despite his restlessness.
I was at the home of the family who was the poor and problematic. His father had pulled when he did not stand the pressure to be the breadwinner, which unfortunately is very common among the poor. So Daniel's mother took care of Daniel, plus three sisters. In the house also lived two teenage cousins ??who both given birth, and whose boyfriends then pulled. Tragic.
The house they lived in was cramped and dark, and the family spent much time on the street, so even Daniel where he played soccer with neighborhood boys after school ended at 3 pm every day. Otherwise, he liked music and was hoping to learn to play an instrument for real in the future.