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Exclusion, isolation, illiteracy, child and slave labor, violence, sexual exploitation, diseases, famine, and human trafficking. Those are some of the problems faced by riverside populations.
assisted by partners and volunteers to carry out special activities in order to bring a little material and spiritual comfort to the population benefited by the program in the State of Pará. In 2011, they distributed 3,450 biblical publications, 1,154 kits for schools, 2,594 toys, 13,000 items of clothing, 1,300 items of footwear, and 2,459 snacks to 22 riverside communities. Comprehensive Action At fi rst, the Light in Amazonia program's task was to improve and expand the distribution of Bibles in the Amazonian region. The initial project of supplying Scriptures and colportage (offering religious books doorto-door) was soon expanded, becoming also a project of philanthropy, medical, dental and pharmaceutical assistance, and donation of clothing and food. Over time, the "Luz na Amazônia" colportage boat became a hospital-boat. Placídia Rodrigues da Rosa, a Clinical Pathology technician and volunteer since 1984, tells that she started contributing in the pioneering wooden vessel. She worked ate Federal University of Pará's Medicine School when the partnership agreement with SBB was signed. “Back then, many islands didn't have electric power,” she recalls. In August, Placídia will turn 68 years old, and she assures that she still has the strength 15
to keep working in the project, which only brings back good memories. The volunteer says she gets happy seeing that people are diagnosed and treated. “Once a woman kissed the boat, said that she had dreamed about it, that it was sent by God, and we all were very moved.” During the fi rst two decades, the Light in Amazonia program distributed Scriptures and offered spiritual and outreach assistance through donations. In 1980, the program started to provide medical assistance, and, in the 1990s, it started to offer dental and clinical lab assistance as well. In 2003, a new work methodology was implemented focused on prevention in the areas of outreach assistance, health care and culture through activities and projects with higher potential to change social reality. In order to accomplish that, SBB signed
The Bible in Brazil