The Beautiful Lives Festival, a great celebration of life because “every life is beautiful”
The first Catholic festival for disabled people is confirmed for 5 and 6 February in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), the Beautiful Lives Festival, which proposes 5 pillars to build a more inclusive society for those with special needs: faith, culture, well-being, technology and sport.
FAITH – The festival includes an exhibition of sacred objects that Pope Francis used during his visit to Rio in 2013 on the occasion of World Youth Day. Seminarians will explain the objects to all interested visitors, and in the particular case of visually impaired people they will also add tactile experience to the explanation. Throughout the festival, visitors will count on the presence of priests available for Confession. One of them will be Fr. Wilson Czaia, the only Brazilian priest who has been deaf since birth.
CULTURE – Plastic arts exhibition, fashion shows and dance presentations are among the cultural initiatives that focus on social inclusion and the involvement of disabled people.
WELLNESS – Participants will receive information and will be able to dispel doubts about the social benefits and legal rights guaranteed to disabled people. In parallel, curricula will be collected to apply for jobs for people with special needs.
TECHNOLOGY – Visitors will learn about technological innovation projects for disabled people, implemented both by private initiative and by public authorities.
SPORT – Sports activities available at the festival include wheelchair basketball, five-a-side football and badminton. Those interested can also take a guided tour of the Nilton Santos Stadium, known as Engenhão.
The entrance consists in the donation of 1 kilo of non-perishable food.
The Beautiful Lives Festival will take place on 5 and 6 February in Train Square (Rua José dos Reis, Engenho de Dentro) in Rio de Janeiro from 15.00 to 22.00.
