When I first came to Atins I discovered a place of natural beauty, a warm-hearted community and was drawn to the natural energy of the area.

Occasionally weary travellers would pass by and enquire whether there was anywhere to rest for the night.  The few people that stayed felt like family or friends and it was great to be able to provide somewhere for people to rest, relax and meet the locals.  It was through these first years that it was decided that we would offer somewhere to stay, eat and drink that was affordable to travellers on a budget and the locals alike. This is how Tchéka Tchéka started and is at present a simple bar and restaurant catering for a limited number of visitors.

There are only a handful of "Gringo's" (foreigners) in Atins. We come from around the world and enjoy a close relationship with the local community.  Our aim is to preserve and protect the way of life in Atins by encouraging sustainable development and by helping educate the local community (and being educated by them).

  

There are several social and environmental issues that hold great importance to the area.  We are working with the local communities in order to try and improve the situation.

Waste Disposal

The issue of waste needs to be addressed as the local population grows.  The difficulty is that the majority of the population live in extreme poverty and do not have the education or resources to effect this change on their own.  The government of Brazil needs to recognise this problem and take action.

We are working with international organisations to try and find a solution to future waste disposal.  The main problem is funding which needs to come directly from the Brazilian government.  The problem is made worse due to the village being practically cut off from civilisation with very limited transport infrastructure.

Locally there are plans to sponsor a collection for household waste (possibly by donkey or bull and cart!).  At Tchéka Tchéka we separate all rubbish, compost organic waste and recycle/re-use as much as possible. 

Overfishing

The local fishing industry is under threat from large companies using illegal practices and destroying the natural habitats where fish breed. There have been restrictions put in place by the IBAMA that ban these practices.  Unfortunately these laws continue to be broken and there is difficulty in policing the large expanse of sea and in punishing the lawbreakers.

Furthermore there was previously widespread local destruction of the mangrove areas on the banks of the river. These areas are vital for sustaining the natural cycle for fish to feed and breed.  There is now more awareness of the importance of these areas and the local community is now realising that protection is the key for future survival.  The goal is to create a sustainable way of living.

Forest Clearance

Wood is an important material used in construction and making charcoal for cooking.  Over the past decades there has been widespread clearance of many of the indigenous tree species in the local area, partly through lack of education and partly through necessity.  Much of the land cleared by burning is then used for farming.  There is no easy solution to this problem, however we hope to reverse this trend and protect what trees are left by making the local community aware of their importance.

Education

The future lies in the hands of the children.  The local teachers have been very helpful in passing on information and have responded by organising rubbish collections in the area.  The message of preservation of the natural environment is an important part of their education and we are organising tree plantings for several areas in and around Atins.