Promoting climbing in a needy community in Brazil

“Firmados na Rocha” is a social project created by Fabiano Lopes, based at São Tomé das Letras, a small town in Brazil and an amazing climbing destination.
It uses Rock Climbing as a tool to take kids out of the streets, giving them an unique opportunity to explore their surrounding and help then build a strong relationship with their community.

(Fabiano with his son)

This project was first started around 2016 when a local church donate a space where Fabiano could build a climbing wall and start giving classes for free. All the expenses with materials came from his own pocket, having holds and shoes donated from close friends.
There was a small group of climbers already in “São Tomé” mostly because of the unique aspect of this place where boulders are pretty much all over town and also the exchange with visiting cimbers.
Without a place to proper train, this space is the closest they have as a training facility and also a local hub where kids get the first contact with rock climbing. Fabiano also use the space to host community events and serve their needy community, providing communal meals, art shows and many others type if social gatherings.
After a few years in activity they were able to set up a local team with 10 athletes and participate in a state league. For most of them was the first opportunity to climb outside their town.
At this moment the project is struggling to survive. They barely have chalk to climb with, the lack of holds affects the experience, their pads are basically old mattresses that can be dangerous when falling on and most of the kids doesn't have their own shoe so they share the few ones available (when not climbing barefoot).

(space where Fabiano give free climbing classes)

Their purpose is:

- Keep kids away from drugs and crime.
- Develop a stronger sense of community.
- Build a generation aware of their role to care and protect the environment.
- Provide a space where the local community can train and learn about rock climbing.
- Discover new talents in the sport.
- Be a platform to empower kids to become better individuals, supporting their needs around spirituality, physical activity and love.

With the money raised with this campaign we will:

- Buy pads for a proper landing area to avoiding accidents and build confidence to engage on certain moves.

- Rebuild their training and stretch area with mats, campus/finger boards and lockers.

- Buy more holds so they can have a better scenario to train and develop route setting skills.
 
- Support the local team participate on the nationals comps, believing that could increase their motivation and ability to inspire other kids.

(Fabiano with the local team)

(An example of social gathering promoted by the social project)

(This kid's face is priceless)

About me:

My name is Luiz and I’m aware of my privileges. As a kid who grew up poor and made it out of that situation, I know how a simple opportunity can change lifes. As many others that praise how climbing changed their lives, I exalt the fact that without rock climbing I would be either in jail or dead. The discipline that climbing imposes gave me a new routine and the constant contact with nature open my perception for the abundance that exist in life.
I started climbing about 20 years ago but took a while to get really involved with it. By the age of 18, after my first climbing trip, I was all set. I knew I wanna be around that for life.
Recently I accomplished the so-called #vanlife and had the opportunity to cruise through the most amazing climbing spots in North America. What once was a dream it turn to be a trap. There had to be more to experience and share than a selfish istagramish way of life.
I’m taking this opportunity to spread Brazil as a world class climbing destination and also to bring back to my community, supporting projects that really work for the good and help to create a better world by giving opportunities to the people.

(Proud of myself after hiking up Lincoln Lake)

THANK YOU VERY MUCH for considering supporting this project.

You can reach me at Facebook  or E-mail 

And check it out this sick video about São Tomé: