Introduction  
     
 

Iko Poran, an organisation that specialises in the temporary placement of foreign volunteers in NGO's based in Rio de Janeiro, was asked by Instituto de Hospitalidade, the executive partner of the World Tourism Forum for Peace and Sustainable Development 2005 to invite a group of youngsters from underdeveloped communities to participate in the forum.

 
   
 
The young people were selected from 3 main projects with which Iko Poran work: Danca Pra Galera, Nós do Cinema, and Spectaculu. Six groups of five people were created, and each group was lead by one Portuguese-speaking and one non Portuguese-speaking volunteer. Each group had two preparatory meetings to stimulate thought before the forum, and then two workshops following the event to consolidate the accumulated ideas and information.
 
   
 
The event itself took place between the 24th and the 26th October at the Copacabana Fort in Rio de Janeiro, following an opening ceremony in the Municipal Theatre. This international forum consisted of over 120 speeches, various presentations, and numerous seminars spread over 11 rooms in the aforementioned location in the heart of Rio’s Zona Sul.
 
   
 
 
in association with
 
 
 
 
Organising Partners