Schedule of Events

September 12th
FUNDRAISER: ACTIVISM + MUSIC + DANCING
Sept. 2/09. Toronto - On Saturday, September 12th music-lovers and activists will gather in Kensington Market in support of indigenous knowledge and culture. Hosted by Toronto-based NGO Friends of Yryapu
(FoYy), the event will feature instructor-led salsa dancing followed by an ample list of up-and-coming musical talent, including The Stormalongs, Maylee Todd, Hugh Oliver, Micheal Rosenthal, Jeannette Depuis, Tom MacCammon and some very special surprise guests.

Audiences will also hear from director Rodrigo Goller, who worked with the Mbyá Guaraní community and lived in the jungles of Argentina before founding FoYy in order to gather support among Canadians. “I witnessed the struggle of people against cultural and ecological destruction and the amazing part was that it wasn't a sad song of sorrow or grief,” recounts Rodrigo. "Although the Mbyá have suffered greatly, their story is one of hope and transformation. Here in Toronto we are trying to share that story and stand in solidarity with our friends in Yryapu and other indigenous cultures. By working to safeguard these ancient and wise cultures we may once again learn how to take care of our neighbours and environment.”

All of the funds raised at the event will help pay for school materials, instructor fees, and the creation of new curriculum, which will also build additional support networks and further the school's journey to financial autonomy and sustainability.

The Friends of Yryapu Fundraiser will take place on Saturday, September 12th at the Teranga African Bar & Restaurant located at 159 Augusta Avenue in Kensington Market. Tickets are $10 and will be available at the door. Doors open at 7pm.

June 20th
BIG on Bloor Street Festival:

On Saturday June 20th, Friends of Yryapu hosted an information table
and a card and bake sale at the BIG on Bloor street festival, with the
support of many dedicated volunteers.  We raised awareness of the
Clemencia Gonales School, signed up new members, invited people to the
meet and greet on July 9th and raised $313 dollars through a bake sale
and greeting cards' sales.  This is enough funds for materials' and
salaries for the school's intercultural facilitators during one school
term.

George, Rita, thank you sooo much for proving the logistic support to
set-up and take down the booth!  Ana, Hanna, Sarah, Shazad, Caroline,
Samantha, Larissa, Megan, thank you sooo much for your contributions
in cookies and browines and staffing the table :)   Michelle and
Tomas, Geoff's tent was instrumental in keeping us going through the
showers :)

Event Pictures

July 9th
Toronto Launch of Friends of Yryapu

You are Cordially Invited to the Toronto Launch of Friends of Yryapu
on July 9th from 6 to 8pm at Hart House in the University of Toronto.

Come meet Friends of Yryapu & learn about a new approach of
intercultural dialogue, developed through intensive consultations with
spiritual and political leaders of the Mbya-Guarani, a South American
indigenous people.

The Clemencia Gonzales School promotes the wellbeing of indigenous
families through: the strengthening of communal life, the rescuing of
ancestral cultural values and conserving the jungle ecosystem, in
order to preserve the way of life of the Mbya-Guarani people.

Please confirm your attendance to:  info@foyy.org
For directions please visit:  www.harthouse.utoronto.ca

Our sincere gratitude is extended to the Hart House Social Justice
Committee, whose support will make this event possible.

Event Flyer

With a famous stew, the Little School in the Jungle concluded its latest intercultural education module. Four of the students had come from the southern region of Brazil.
     Cintia and Flavia were the only women in this group. Since its implementation, over fifty Mbya Guaraní Youth have participated in the eight-week modules which introduces them to the work of indigenous interpreters.
     The current module on Interpreting the Cultural and National Heritage had eight participants, five of whom completed the training and three younger participants who will continue as helpers until they achieve the required proficiency level.
     Following the tradition established at the Clemencia González Bilingual School of Mbya Guaraní Cultural Tourism, the celebration “made do” with a stew and a simple act of handing out certificates, overseen by Grandmother Clemencia, the spiritual leader of the little school.
     In this event the team of facilitators consisted of Claudia Amiccone, Fernanda Fabbio, Isabel Aquino, Sandra Martínez, Yanco Tomas and Ricardo Fernández. Viviana Bacigalupo coordinates the pedagogy and Francisco Franco is the Mbya Guaraní in charge of the school. Also present were Eduardo Collier, Alexandra Niesslein, Neil Rea, Ai Kenko and Mónica Sosa, instructors of the computer and open language classes at the Iguazu Technological Institute (ITEC). Claudio Salvador continues to coordinate the Argentine Model for Tourism and Employment (MATE) project within the ITEC.

     Daniel, Gabriel, Miguel and Marcelo (along with Antonio from Yryapu) were the five interpreters that successfully completed this session. They will travel back to their community of Korenju –located in the Brazilian territory of the old Jesuit missions- to continue the journey of their village, towards the responsible integration of activities, products and services of indigenous cultural tourism, amongst the wider regional tourism.
     The village of Koenju –dawn in Mbya Guaraní- has been working with various governmental and non-governmental organizations in the Brazilian south, to become part of the circuit of touristic destinations. To achieve this integration the Brazilian government recently approved an initiative presented by the Guaraní Conscience Association of Brazil. The Brazilian Ngo SEBRAE (Brazilian Support Service for Micro and Small Enterprises), based out of the southern-most state, Rio Grande do Sul, supports the initiative which sprung from the experiences of the joint CIDA/Niagara College/ITEC Iguazu Argentine Model for Tourism and Employment (MATE) Project, based in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina.

Original article written by
Claudio Salvador in Puerto Iguazu, Argentina, on November 15, 2008.
Translated to English by Rodrigo Goller in Toronto, Canada, on November 24, 2008.