Marcone has been a part of Living Stones Paudalho since he was little. He has never been to school, and spends most of his time begging for food or money. He is deaf, and does not know sign language other than gesures he uses to communicate his basic needs. There are six children in his family, their mother long gone and their father a drunk. Their Aunt looked after them as she could growing up, but mostly the oldest sister, Mercia, takes control.
I asked Mercia when everyone's birthday was, but Marcone was never regestered, and so doesn't have a birth certificate. No one knows when his birthday is. All we know is that he is younger than Mercia and older than Taciana. So no one has ever celebrated Marcone's birthday. Mercia and I agreed that this should change, so we picked a day and decided it would be his birthday: Children's day (October 12).
This year, Marcone had his first birthday party, through the $10 for Them program (
www.wribrazil.com/10forthem). He had seen me come and give parties for all of his siblings, so when I put the birthday glasses on his face, he lit up and knew what was coming next. We sang Happy Birthday, and while he couldn't hear, he clapped along with us, shyly looking around. He ran off with his birthday present, too shy to open it in front of us. He let me take one picture, and get one hug. Happy 16th Birthday Marcone! The first of many.
Thank you to Dr.Taylor, John Winzeler, and unnamed doners for providing the $10 so that these children could have a birthday party!
