At the end of October, Argemiro Almeida died in Salvador, Brazil. We mourn the loss of the activist who for years passionately worked for the cause of the poor in Brazil. With his commitment, also in Switzerland, he helped open new doors for critical reporting on the consequences of major sporting events.
We mourn for our Brazilian friend Argemiro Almeida, who died of Chagas' disease on October 23. He died in Salvador at the age of 52. Argemiro was a committed activist who always stood up for the disadvantaged. Before the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he joined forces with representatives of various organizations and activists in citizens' committees. The citizens' committees made the human rights violations during the preparations for and during the World Cup visible to a wide audience. His commitment was directed at Brazil's poor, on whose back the Games (World Cup 2014 and Olympic Games 2016) were played.
Important work in Switzerland
At the invitation of terre des hommes schweiz, Argemiro spoke at numerous events in Switzerland in January 2013. With his engaging and authentic manner, his concern gained a great deal of attention from the Swiss public overnight. He was also allowed to audition for the International Olympic Committee. There he drew attention to the population threatened by expulsion and also made concrete suggestions for improvement. Argemiro's visit to Switzerland was groundbreaking and ensured that critical coverage of the major sporting events in Brazil found its way into the Swiss media.
