My first days at CDI...

Moving, a reality check, soulful. Food for the soul... having stepped into the CDI world for the first time, I realized how far away from reality I've been living. Not even a mile away from the nearest favela, my life like so many others, has been sheltered by the tall gates and luxe shops that line the streets where I live, remaining a distant observer to the poverty that surrounds me. I saw only through tinted car windows and expressed disappointment about how ugly the situation is here in the Cidade Maravilhosa. Not my problem, that's just the way it is, not much I can do, too much to fix... until I was there - inside. When you really see for yourself - the hopeful faces in front of computers, hear the personal success stories, meet the people and feel the spirit, it all changes. It takes just one visit, just one story, just one look into a child's eyes to make you realize that one person can truly make a difference. If we could multiply that experience and stop sheltering ourselves by using "security" excuses, we can change the world. I feel more secure living in Rio now than ever before because I've finally met some changemakers, and for some lucky cosmic reason my path crossed with CDI, and am now part of their team.

So many of us "privileged" people walk around with empty souls, spending lots of money on therapy, entertainment and fine dining to fill our needs... but could it be that all we really need is just one experience to realize that, at the end of the day, it's not the internet that's connects us, it's just being human. We need to get connected. We owe it to our planet, ourselves and to our souls.

Bravo CDI for making a difference in ALL of our lives!