Friday 28 June 2013

ONE: Lauren Batty

 
 
Lauren Batty
A challenge I overcame: To pursue my dreams and do what makes me happy even when it seems impossible or tough.
A dream for my future: To have a family, be happy and to continue doing what I love to do.
A hope for the global community: For everyone to live in unity and have the basic needs all humans deserve to have.  
Lauren Batty is the amazing long-term volunteer dance teacher at the Meninadança Pink House in Medina.  Originally from Bradford in north England, Lauren has been here in Brazil since the house opened in January and once she’s popped home this July to sort out her visa, will come back out for another full year of working with the charity.
Lauren, called Lorena by the girls and staff, trained in drama in the UK and teaches street dance to the girls.  Having been here since the beginning of the project, Lauren has been an integral part of the girls settling into the house and has observed them change from being shy and nervous girls with a lot of neighbourhood rivalry, growing more relaxed and more confident over the passing months.
Lauren has done really amazing work with the girls, preparing them and being alongside them at a number of public dance performances already, both in Medina and in surrounding towns.  Right at the beginning of my placement I remember watching Lauren’s videos of the girls performing and being really moved and inspired about the upcoming work at the Pink House, thinking “this is what its all about!”
You can really see the love that the girls have for Lauren, and it was beautiful to hear a few of them stand up on stage and thank her at our performance on the 8th June “O Seu Olhar Pode Transformar As Nossas Vidas” (Your Look Can Transform Our Lives).  This week as I write will have been Lauren’s last before heading home for the visa and I know the girls will be missing her hugely and looking forward excitedly to her return.
So wishing you a brilliant time back home Lauren, and a safe and swift return to our girls at the Pink House later in the year. Thanks for all the shared time (and for the tip-off about that great chocolate cake in the square!!)
Big love
:-)

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