Scout courage, resilience and hope
When devastating floods struck the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul, 25-year-old Scout leader Luiza Aiolfi immediately volunteered to coordinate vital Scout relief efforts and support families who had lost everything, serving as a pillar of strength and resilience. As we continue to shine a light on Scout humanitarian action throughout our 2024 Annual Appeal for World Scouting, discover Luiza's Scout story, the scale of the Brazilian Scout action and hear what compelled Luiza and her fellow Scouts to act:
Luiza’s journey in Scouting began aged 13, after years of dreaming about joining, yet not being able to participate in numerous physical activities due to a spinal condition. Tenacious Luiza eventually convinced her parents to let her participate and has never looked back.
In September 2023 and again in April 2024, unprecedented floods struck Luiza’s State, Rio Grande do Sul, causing mass devastation. In 2023, more than 359,000 individuals were directly affected. The first wave of floods saw entire roads disappear under water and homes and buildings destroyed. Discover the scale of Brazilian Scout action and hear Luiza share her story at the 2024 Impact of Scouting Seminar here.
As rain poured and rivers overflowed, Luiza and her Scout group travelled to Muçum, one of the worst-hit areas, to clean houses buried in mud.
“We cleaned many houses for days, cleaning out the mud. It was exhausting: 12 Scouts, 8 hours, only one house, but when we saw the homeowners' face of gratitude, we saw that we were not only moving mud; we were restoring hope.” Luiza Aiolfi, Scout leader, Brazil.
In April 2024, the crisis intensified. It rained non-stop for two months, impacting 80% of the State and over 2 million people. The flooding caused unimaginable loss of life, destruction of homes and livelihoods, massive devastation to agriculture, livestock and infrastructure, leading to widespread power outages and water supply disruptions. Entire towns were submerged, and travel between cities became impossible.
With roads blocked, Luiza and other local Scouts couldn’t reach the affected areas, so they sought other ways to help, volunteering at local donation centres, distributing aid and providing emotional support and more to families in the affected towns and cities.
“Every blanket, every bag of rice, every pair of shoes we packed became a lifeline for families in need”, explains Luiza.
Beyond the immediate relief, Scouts have played a unique role in the long-term, because they have stayed put, actively helping ongoing efforts to rebuild.
"Unlike many organisations that come and go, we remain here in the community. We’re neighb,ours, friends, family to the people we’re helping. That connection, that long-term commitment, is what makes our work as Scouts so meaningful”, says Luiza.
In total, Brazil Scouts volunteered over 1 million hours of community service to clear mud and debris from homes, provide and distribute essential supplies, manage local donation centres, and more, helping thousands of people to get back on their feet.
Thanks to national and international fundraising efforts, including funding raised via the Scout Donation Platform via BP Fellows and other Scout supporters, Luiza and her fellow Scouts were able to raise over USD 64,000 in donations, enabling them to continue their aid distribution, helping families to replace bigger household appliances (fridges and stoves) and to start to rebuild some Scout facilities.
Luiza’s passion for spreading compassion and peace continues today, as she champions service to others and inspires other Scouts to lead community action in her role as National Coordinator for the Messengers of Peace initiative for Scouts of Brazil.
"Scouting is about resilience, empathy, and leadership. Challenges shape us into better versions of ourselves, and as Scouts, we’re committed to rebuilding not only homes, but hope.” Luiza Aiolfi, Scout leader, Brazil.
Make a Difference Today
Scouts like Luiza are leading life-changing initiatives every day, bringing hope and strength to communities in crisis. With your continued support, World Scouting can empower even more young leaders to step up in times of need, equipped with the skills, tools and compassion to make a difference where it matters most.
Help us support even more leaders like Luiza by making your annual gift to World Scouting via our 2024 Annual Appeal.
Donate here today!
Photography credits: M. Hocherman & Escoteiros do Brasil.
Video of the flooding: Escoteiros do Brasil; Impact of Scouting Seminar/WSF