Derlan is a young Brazilian boy who lives with his parents and a younger brother, in a farming community located in the arid Jequitinhonha Valley, northeast Minas Gerais, Brazil. Their self-built adobe-walled home has dirt floors, a clay roof and only rudimentary sanitary facilities. The per-capita family income is less than US$50.00 per month. The local social service workers there describe Derlan as "friendly and cheerful. He helps his mom around the house. He likes playing soccer and with toy cars along with his brother Dernion and friends. Derlan is considered to have good health, in spite of the poor living conditions and diet. He attends a public school and his big dream is to be a soccer player when he grows up."
Last June, Derlan became one of the children supported through LangaList Plus! subscription contributions. (See http://www.langa.com/plus2.htm#kids for more info.)
We recently received a letter from Derlan, which was nice to see: It helps to make real and to fully humanize what otherwise could be a rather impersonal connection.
His letter--- written in faint pencil and colored with crayons--- translates this way:
July 24,01
Dear Sponsor, how are you? All is well with me.
Sponsor I will tell you a little about my Family. I have 3 siblings, Daiane who is 2 years old, Dernion 9 and Denia 18. My father is named Jose Joao and my mother's name is Miria. My father works as a diarist and my mother as a cleaner.
I like to study very much and the subject I like best is Science. I also like soccer and because of it I am in a soccer school here in my town.
Sponsor I thank you million times because you have chosen me as your sponsored child.
Sponsor I am on my vacation and I have been enjoying it very much, but I will come back to my studies pretty soon.
Sponsor I thank you because you have chosen me as your sponsored child.
I will close for now.
Tchau and a hug from your sponsored child,
DERLAN MENDES DE SOUZA
Together, through the LangaList Plus!, you're helping to "give back" a little to those less fortunate.
Many, many thanks!