School students from Belo Horizonte collect toys for children affected from Mariana

The occupations of the state schools in São Paulo, held in protest against the “reorganization” (closure of 93 schools) proposed by the Governor Geraldo Alckmin, highlightened the importance of youth in national politics.

In Belo Horizonte (MG), students of the state school located in the neighborhood Pedro II are also demonstrating a huge political maturity. On Wednesday (08), the fifth graders started a toy collection campaign for children affected by the rupture of dams of Samarco (Vale/BHP Billiton).

Among the 941 people homeless, according to initial survey of the Movement of People Affected by Dams (MAB), hundreds are children who lost their school, their football field and toys, all buried by the toxic mud.

In an act of solidarity, students of the state capital decided to collect toys which will be sent through MAB’s ciranda to be distribuited for the children affected from Mariana and Barra Longa.

In addition, students will also send a letter of solidarity with every toy collected containing messages of support.

“I’m really sad about all the people who died and the turtles that died too. I saw several which died in the sea. One million reais does not pay the life of a child killed by the dam,”said one of the students.

All collected toys will be distributed at a coletive Christmas celebration organized by those affected in Mariana.