Dear readers!
Spring has now arrived in the Netherlands. High time for some nice tropical surprises and updates around Estrela da Favela. In Mangueira the new school year has started again. We have welcomed many new children into our program. Estrela is growing and flourishing and we are happy to tell you more about it and this new edition!
Enjoy reading!
Personal story: Maria Evelyn Layane Moraes
Another wonderful milestone for our foundation. At just 15 years old, Maria Evelyn Layane Moraes (see photos below) was admitted to three technical schools.
She started at Estrela da Favela at age 8 and now all her efforts are being rewarded in a wonderful way.
Thus, she was admitted to a pharmaceutical training program. In addition, a mechanical training and an administrative training at FAETEC in Rio de Janeiro.
Awesome news!
Mathematics teacher
Recently we were able to add Larissa Carvalho (see photo below), our new math teacher, to our education program. A young and passionate woman who, starting this new school year, will brush up our children with the most important tricks of the trade.
Escolinha Fabiano de Paula
We have also started a collaboration with the tennis school of Fabiano de Paula. An ex-tennis pro who was born and raised in the biggest favela of South America: Rocinha. After his career, he wanted to give something back to the children of this neighborhood. He realized a beautiful gravel court, high at the top of this gigantic and impressive favela. See some pictures here. The children from Rocinha get free tennis lessons here. From now on, the children from Estrela da Favela will also have the opportunity to work on their tennis skills here.
Fruit and vegetable donor
Recently, thanks to Jeff Doorman, one of our donors from the United States, we are able to provide the children in our program with even more healthy servings of fruits and vegetables. In addition to this wonderful gesture, he has been supporting us for a long time with beautiful clothing from 021 Originals for the children. More information about our partnership can be found here.
Reportage Daniel Godinho Veiga
In January, Daniel Godinho Veiga, host of the RTL program Editie NL, traveled to Rio de Janeiro. Because of his love for Brazil, his father being Brazilian, he wanted to come and visit the foundation. Together with his family, he attended a workshop, played a soccer tournament with the children and was given a tour of the neighborhood and a child’s home. He made a short report of this which, of course, we don’t want to withhold from you. You can find the video here
Children Estrela da Favela visit Rio Open 2025
A number of children from the foundation were able to visit South America’s biggest tennis tournament, the Rio Open, in February. The Dutch participants Jean-Julien Rojer, winner of 4 grand slams, and Sander Arends made a number of tickets available to Estrela da Favela. Shirts were also autographed and we received the official tournament towels and photos. Sander Arends also visited our foundation after his match. It was a great experience for both the kids and the coaching staff. See the picture below.
Jubilee PadelNEXT x Estrela da Favela
On Saturday, May 10, PadelNEXT at Willem de Zwijgerlaan 338c in Amsterdam will celebrate its 3-year anniversary. Founder and owner Friso van den Broek gives Estrela da Favela a very nice place in the program. Throughout the day there will be tournaments organized where part of the entry fees will go to Estrela da Favela.
There will also be a raffle after each tournament with great prizes. The proceeds from the tickets sold will be donated to the foundation. Furthermore, there will be a caipirinha cocktail bar and a DJ who will give the anniversary party an extra Brazilian touch.
Signing up for any of the tournaments can be done through the website of PadelNext. We hope to see you there!
Padela da Favela Events
We started Padela da Favela in the middle of 2024. Various padel events where part of the proceeds will benefit Estrela da Favela. Meanwhile, we have a number of nice cooperation partners that we would like to introduce, if known, the date of the next event:
- PadelNEXT in Amsterdam: May 10
- Padel Hill in Hillegom
- Clubhouse Padel & Ping Pong in Beverwijk: May 3
- Top Padel in Sassenheim: June 28
- Padelpark 21 in Hoofddorp
- WePadel in Haarlem
- Padel Mate in Hoorn and Amstelveen: July 5
- Padelfabriek in Leeuwarden: May 30
- Peakz Padel in Utrecht
- Peakz Padel in Zwolle: May 9
If you would like to padel for Estrela sometime, keep an eye on the padel clubs website and our social media.
Read a book for Estrela: Breaking Point – Thiemo de Bakker
On April 8, the book Breakpoint will be released about tennis player Thiemo de Bakker – “My struggle with life as a tennis pro.” An intriguing story about mental struggle, loneliness, temptations and the search for happiness. Part of the proceeds from this book will benefit Estrela da Favela!
He was called the greatest Dutch talent ever. And he seemed to live up to that. At 22, Thiemo de Bakker, the Wimbledon junior champion, established himself among the top 40 tennis players in the world and was seen as a future challenger by world leaders such as Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Lleyton Hewitt.
But then things went completely wrong in 1 season. For more than 10 years De Bakker wandered the international tennis world with occasional success in the Davis Cup and a brief return to the top 100. His big problem: He had lost himself, became anxious on the tennis court. Several times he was on break.
The book is available here to order. Enjoy reading!
NEW: The Amigos da Estrela Club
The Amigos da Estrela Club consists of a network of people and businesses who join Estrela with the goal of achieving greater long-term continuity for the foundation. The club provides a platform to meet in different settings such as at unique dining venues, museums and through sports. Our amigos are socially engaged and support Estrela da Favela.
Check out our 4 packages below (prices in Euros). Want to sign up or receive more info?
Mail to info@estreladafavela.com
We could use your support 🙌
To be assured of long-term survival, I would like to ask everyone who has hesitated so far to support Estrela to make a small or slightly larger (monthly) contribution to the account of the Friends of Estrela Foundation at NL 17 ABNA 0522 6100 64 or via www.estreladafavela.com/steun