Raising money for Marcos Barros' unborn baby

This is a fundraiser to help give some support to the unborn baby of our dear friend Marcos Barros, who tragically died, aged just 42, in motorcycle accident in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday 23rd April 2022.

Marcos leaves behind a 23-week pregnant girlfriend who is due to give birth to his first child.

Any money raised will be given to Marcos' girlfriend Aline Braga to help with needs and necessities the baby requires.

Anyone who was fortunate enough to know Marcos, knows how much a good, caring, polite, respectable, humble, caring, giving and gentle man he was.

He was an incredibly hard-worker, and studied more than anyone else I have ever known, always trying to better himself and pass on his knowledge to others around him. Marcos was very passionate about his work in education and journalism and excelled at what he did.

I knew Marcos from working in tourism together in Rocinha. He already spoke great English when we first met but he was always workinmg to perfect the language with myself and the tourists. He helped me greatly learning Portuguese too and was a great teacher. Marcos donated all the tables and chairs to my school too when it first started which was a massive help to getting my project started. I will never forget that.

News story of Marcos' death - https://falaroca.com/morre-marcos-barros-educacao-rocinha/

News story translation into English:

The journalist and community educator, Marcos Cavalcante Barros, died this Sunday (25), at the age of 42. He was the victim of a motorcycle accident that took place on Saturday (24), in Botafogo, in the south zone of Rio. He was taken to the Miguel Couto Municipal Hospital, but he could not resist his injuries.

Marcos Barros is considered one of the references in the educational training of young people, adults and seniors in Rocinha, especially in terms of access to higher education. Born and raised in Rocinha, Barros graduated in Social Communication, with a BA in Journalism from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) in 2011.

A year earlier, he had assumed – voluntarily – the communication coordination of the Pre-Vestibular Comunitário da Rocinha (PVCR) where he also taught writing classes to favela residents who dreamed of entering universities.

Vascaíno and forrozeiro, he was also passionate about traveling on motorcycles. In his spare time, he sat on his motorcycle and destinations were posted on social media.

In a note, the PVCR highlighted the continuity of Marcos Barros' legacy at the institution. “What remains for us are the happy moments and the lessons we learned from him, as well as his legacy. Together, we are committed to continuing this work of building quality public education.”

Barros believed that encouraging education and believing in other people's dreams is a form of love. In one of his latest Instagram posts, the journalist highlighted personal growth over the past 10 years.

education-marcos-barros-rocinha

Marcos Barros, 42 years old, a reference as a journalist and educator in Rocinha. Photo: Reproduction / Social Networks

In 2016, he participated in a school project with children under 6 years old at Adolescentro Paulo Freire, at the Rinaldo de Lamare Citizenship Center. Aware of the difficulties in accessing basic education, he participated in the active search for families who did not have the technological conditions to register for school, in addition to checking the vaccination book with the support of community health agents.

In addition to popular education, the journalist collaborated with the portal FavelaDaRocinha.com. Always suggesting stories for possible subjects, this is how Fala Roça told the story of Dona Rizonete, 55, who studied at PVCR and became a Pedagogy student at the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ).

The wake is scheduled for this Tuesday (26), at 9 am, at São João Batista Cemetery, in Botafogo. Burial is scheduled for 1 pm at the same location. He leaves his partner five months pregnant.

When Marcos learnt that he was to become a father, he wrote this heartfelt Facebook post. Reading this today is truly heartbreaking...

Translation into English:

On this birthday I received the best gift ever. A dream that has always been part of me, but for different reasons had not yet come true.

It wasn't the way I planned, but the way God planned.

I didn't know my father and I know how much he missed him, so I want to be a present father, give him the love he gave me and teach him the things I had to learn on my own, values such as altruism, humility, ethics, respect for others, etc.

He is currently 17 weeks old, but in August he will arrive to give my life more meaning.

From now and forever I love you Bernardo.

Please give what you can to help provide baby Bernardo with the best possible start in life.