Brazil – Camp Samba
Founded: 2015
Locations: Campos do Jordão, São Paulo State and Alexandria, State of Rio Grande do Norte
Directors: Nayara Gerez and Luiz Philipe Vana, MD
Number of Campers: 50
Director of development USA: Vania Mendes
On July 21, 2017, Burn Advocates Network, in partnership with the Brazilian Burn Society, opened Camp Samba in a beautiful camping site outside of Sao Paulo near the city of Campos do Jordão. This was a very exciting introduction because approximately 40 campers between the ages of 5 and 17 years met other burn survivors with the same issue—burn scars. The kids flourished during their duration in camp; they came at various levels of depression and isolation and left changed. They had renewed spirits and a sense of self-worth. The campers participated in numerous activities which included swimming, canoeing, athletic competitions, paint warfare, cooking classes, drumstick lessons, arts and crafts and other fun activities. The team consisted of doctors, nurses, therapists and volunteers who monitored each child to ensure they all received quality care and wonderful experience during their stay. In 2019, we started a second camp in the magnificent Rancho Victory in Alexandria, one hour away from the capital Brasilia.