Category: Recovery Stories

João Diogo, a 24-year-old Brazilian, came to Eco Caminhos in November 2020 and in this interview he reports on how his routine on the farm helped him, primarily with issues related to anxiety.

“I feel much calmer, less anxious than when I used to have another routine”, he said.

Our routine involves manual and physical work, a lot of contact with nature, and socializing in much calmer environments than in urban ones. João Diogo is just one example of people who found in Eco Caminhos a suitable place to deal with and help with difficulties, such as anxiety. We believe that the Rehabilitation Program we offer can help even more people, especially in the atypical situation that we live in today.

Check out our interview with João Diogo where he talks about how the program helped him:

Why did you decide to come to Eco Caminhos?

Because Eco Caminhos has a whole other routine and a very positive environment, encompassing issues of nature such as permaculture and bioconstruction (natural building) and sharing experiences between different cultures.

How is your experience in the Rehab program? What activities in your routine help you feel better?

It’s been particularly great! I never imagined that I would be totally immersed in this world, in this context of permaculture, bioconstruction, etc. I had no idea how much good it would do me.

The activities that make me feel better are those that require physical effort. I’ve always liked to play ball and run, to practice physical activities in general. It’s like a tool that was missing for my system to work the way it should. We never stop here, regardless of the area you are in, be it in bioconstruction, agroforestry, or general care of the farm. Not to mention the moments of leisure, with trails and waterfalls outside.

Had you already looked for other ways to work through your issues? How does this rehabilitation program differ from other aids you’ve had?

Yes, I’m always looking. Practicing sports and physical activities has always been very present and has always helped me with my anxiety issues. I have also talked to my psychologist and she herself recommended that I practice physical exercises and other activities.

I believe that Eco Caminhos in particular has the necessary means to make the life of any person more balanced.

Do you think that contact with nature and living in a community is also something that helps you? How?

Without a doubt it helps me! Nature helps me understand the timing of things and living in community makes us share, this exchange makes us grow constantly.

What are the biggest differences you’ve noticed regarding your feelings? Previous feelings that have changed since your time living here?

Without a doubt, I feel much calmer, less anxious than when I had another routine.

Would you recommend Eco Caminhos to other people with issues similar to yours? Why?

The three months I spent at Eco Caminhos was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. The combination of the oasis of nature, the farm work, building and the warm and diverse volunteers allowed me to find inner peace and stability and see myself and others more clearly. 

The rhythm of life was a welcome change from the often chaotic and demanding nature of the city, and this environment really allows individuals to slow down and become more established in the simple things. 

Waking up and opening my door to tropical mountains in every colour of green refreshed, excited me about each day and the amazing diversity of wildlife: vegetation species, insects and birds provided new things to be curious about and learn from. 

The permaculture garden was diverse and full of life. It was interesting and enlightening to see complex natural systems at work in a way that offers a more sustainable alternative to traditionally accepted farming methods. The physical nature of the work could be demanding, but everyone just does their best at their own pace and over time I felt myself being filled with new strength and energy.

The meals at Eco Caminhos were times of being together and sharing healthy food, much of it being organic vegetables from the garden. The volunteers take turns cooking which was always a fun and creative challenge to feed almost 20 people, but it provides an excellent opportunity for anyone who is curious to learn more about vegan and healthy cooking in a way that is accessible and sustainable. 

The volunteers were all warm and open, the differences of perspectives and positions in life created an environment to learn about coexisting with diversity and accepting others in their true nature. Game nights and movie nights as well as late night chats around a campfire often brought the community together.

Over all, my experience at Eco Caminhos enriched many parts of my life. I left feeling healthier, more energetic, more open, excited about life and hopeful knowing that many projects like this are devoted to finding a way of life that respects and takes accountability for the state of the planet and the people on it. 

I am filled with gratitude that I had the opportunity to experience this beautiful place filled with lovely people.

Thank you for everything!

–  Kennedy

Want to read more about the rehabilitation program at Eco Caminhos? Click here.

Currently, I am 21 years old and I have been working for Eco Caminhos for 9 months. I was born and raised in the Netherlands and faced a lot of problems whilst growing up there. 

I was someone who placed tremendously high demands on himself and from that, succumbed to severe depression. I thought it was necessary to go to the hairdresser at least every two weeks or preferably every week. I wore expensive clothes and spoiled myself every week, buying new things I had no need for. I was very unhappy with myself, but never wanted to show this to others. My parents, brother and some of my good friends were the only people to know of my problems. I found it very difficult to utter any words to anyone about my issues, despite having been with different psychologists for 4 years. I tried a number of different medications to get myself on the right path, but nothing was able to help me.

I was a boy who retreated more and more and did not take responsibility. Not only was it a difficult situation for me, but also for my family and my friends. I felt completely stuck, while the people around me still held  high expectations for me. It was after years of struggling with myself that I realized I had to leave everything I knew behind to begin to make a change. 

Through my father’s best friend, I contacted Bart Bijen (owner Eco Caminhos). I had a good conversation with him and explained my problems. He told me he wanted to help and that his project and way of living in Brazil would be the right way for me to start anew. I finally decided to meet this challenge and booked my flight on March 13th from Amsterdam to Rio de Janeiro. From the day I arrived, I tried all I could to make the most of this opportunity and from that, I have been able to really learn about myself and change my mind as a person. 

When I was in my depression, I would constantly be looking at social media with every chance I had. But here in Brazil I realized social media platforms for what they really are and decided to remove everything. Online, people are incredibly open to show the positive aspects of their lives and never the negative, and when I would see these people living these dream lives I would then go on to try and strive for the same and would constantly compare myself to others. After I removed it, all of the noise in my head gradually grew more quiet and I felt much happier within myself. 

A significant change since arriving here is my diet. In the Netherlands I would consume a lot of meat and dairy products. Here in Brazil I was open for change and tried out different methods of nutrition. I took a huge step after a while of debating and I became a vegetarian, which I believe has had a positive impact on my mental state. 

Here in Cardinot, where the project is situated, I have been able to find the peace I needed to work on my problems, something that I did not have the ability to do in the Netherlands for the last 4 years. 

The nature here is really awe inspiring and it’s a pleasure to wake up here everyday. The tranquility I feel whilst being in the midst of amazing surroundings here is like nothing I’ve ever experienced, and the people I’m surrounded with are welcoming, open and respectful. We live together with 10 volunteers and the group mentality and togetherness is incredible. The people within the team are eager and always open to help each other with any problems, which gave me a huge sense of relief as I never felt comfortable in the Netherlands to talk about what was going on within myself. 

I was able to talk more freely about my problems and learned that it’s good to talk about them. It gave me a sense of belonging and often many emotions came loose. I had to cry occasionally, but I have come to realize that this does not make you weak, it is part of what makes us human.

In my eyes, this is a place where if you’re in a knot and you cannot find a way out, you can find relief and clarity. I am very happy that I made this choice myself and I feel much better now. 

We also work with Bioconstruction and with Permaculture. It’s a fantastic project and extremely educational. As a team we work very hard together, and at the end of the day you know you are going to sleep feeling accomplished. I’ve found that doing physical work, allows you to let go of the worries within yourself and in turn you’ll feel better mentally. 

I have learnt so much here and I would not know where I would be now if I had chosen to stay in the Netherlands. Eco Caminhos is a place to move past your issues and grow as a person.

If you want to know more about our rehabilitation services, please visit Rehabilitation – Go back to the basics