- Title: Santa Claus spreads Christmas cheer in Brazil's Amazonas communities
- Date: 20th December 2024
- Summary: MANAUS, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL (DECEMBER 20, 2024) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PERSON DRESSED UP AS SANTA CLAUS STANDING ON BOAT AND WAVING VARIOUS BOATS OF LOCAL RESIDENTS WATCHING SANTA CLAUS PASS BY SANTA WAVING IN FRONT OF THE BOAT ARRIVING AT THE SHORE VARIOUS OF SANTA CLAUS WALKING TOWARDS THE COMMUNITY VARIOUS OF SANTA CLAUS ON A VEHICLE PASSING THROUGH THE FOREST AND ARRIVING AT THE COMMUNITY (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ELECTRONICS TECHNICIAN DRESSED AS SANTA CLAUS, JORGE ALBERTO, SAYING: "It's wonderful to help. Being here is great. Seeing a child's smile is heartwarming, especially when many can't afford it (buy Christmas presents), sometimes their parents can't. They survive off the land, and we've come to this community to bring smiles and Christmas joy to these kids." CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY PHOTOGRAPHING SANTA CLAUS SANTA CLAUS HUGGING ACURAL VILLAGE LEADER, MARIA DE JESUS CASTILHO, AND GREETING THE CHILDREN (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) ACURAL VILLAGE LEADER, MARIA DE JESUS CASTILHO, SAYING: "In these difficult days of drought, I was even thinking that, my God, who's going to remember us the way things are with the logistics we have today? But Santa Claus hasn't forgotten us, so much so that he's here with us, right? So it's a great emotion." VOLUNTEERS OF THE PROJECT HOLDING GIFTS CHILDREN RECEIVING PRESENTS FROM VOLUNTEERS OF THE AMIGOS DO NOEL PROJECT (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) PROGRAMMER AND PROJECT VOLUNTEER, PEDRO CARVALHO DE BARROS FILHO, SAYING: "When you reach the community, you see children smiling as they receive gifts and see Santa Claus, someone they can't usually see because they can't afford to go to Manaus." VARIOUS CHILDREN FROM THE COMMUNITY, POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH SANTA CLAUS HUT WHERE THE GIFTS ARE HANDED OUT CHILDREN AND VOLUNTEERS OF THE AMIGOS DO NOEL PROJECT PLAYING VOLLEYBALL CHILD PLAYING WITH THE GIFT HE RECEIVED RESIDENTS OF THE COMMUNITY WAVING TO THE CAMERA CHILDREN HUGGING SANTA CLAUS
- Embargoed: 3rd January 2025 22:51
- Keywords: Amazon river Christmas Indigenous communities Manaus Santa Claus
- Location: MANAUS, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL
- City: MANAUS, AMAZONAS, BRAZIL
- Country: Brazil
- Topics: Arts/Culture/Entertainment,South America / Central America
- Reuters ID: LVA001871820122024RP1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Santa Claus replaced his slay and flying reindeers for a small boat on Friday (December 20) sailing in the heart of the Amazon, on his way to spread joy to children in the Abelha community.
As part of the Amigos do Noel project, volunteers delivered around 70 presents to families who rely on the land for survival.
Community leader Maria de Jesus Castilho expressed her gratitude, noting the emotional impact of Santa's visit during challenging times.
Established in 1988, Amigos do Noel aims to reach 7,000 children this year across Manaus and its surroundings.
(Production: Bruno Kelly, Renato Spyrro, Hugo Monnet) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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