Angola

In 2014, after residing for 2 years in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Marcos Freire and Jonnes Queiroz founded Baluarte, the name that previously only composed a verse of one of Marcos Freire’s songs, became an even deeper meaning, where the meaning of the word it seemed to match the construction of the place they wanted to take to Africa. Refuge, help, protection and an inviolable and impenetrable security, just like a Bulwark, seeing the need to change not only the current reality of the time, but propagating and provoking a change of mentality, the Bulwark emerged, a place of help and refuge, but also a place of metanoia.

In 2018, at the beginning offering literacy and school tutoring, 40 children signed up, a few days later there were already 80 children. Today, Baluarte provides full assistance to around 400 children. “We are a beautiful school regulated by the Angolan Government, we offer daily food, education from the youngest to the 6th grade, and more: music school, theater, circus, dance, Christian discipleship, computers and soon technical training and English classes. The school today has 32 employees and a body of 20 teachers, more than 90% native, these people had their lives completely changed, and currently help to transform the reality of other people.”