New addition to the family: Fernanda Brandão and Roman Weber

WITH DOUBLE THE POWER AHEAD: Independently of each other, they have been campaigning for indigenous peoples in the Amazon rainforest for many years. It was precisely this commitment that brought them together: Fernanda Brandão, entertainer, fitness expert and author, and Roman Weber, TARGET board member and Rüdiger Nehberg's son.

At a joint meeting in Rausdorf in mid-2020, Fernanda Brandão and Roman Weber shared their experiences of project work with indigenous people in Brazil. The meeting turned out to be a lucky coincidence: Fernanda and Roman immediately formed a special bond. They quickly realized that they wanted to embark on their journey together, both in their work for the indigenous people of Brazil and in their private lives. In spring 2022, Roman Weber and Fernanda Brandão's daughter Aurora was born in Lapland: a wonderful addition to the Nehberg family!

Brandão and Roman Weber with daughter Aurora in their arms

Fernanda brought her health projects with the indigenous Huni Kuin people to TARGET e. V. Rüdiger Nehberg. Fernanda Brandão was able to secure financial support for the Huni Kuin, also known as Kaxinawá, which Roman Weber pooled and implemented with TARGET: the construction of wells for clean drinking water in the Amazon rainforest.

Since their first trips to the Amazon region (Fernanda Brandão 2016, Roman Weber 2002), they have been deeply impressed by the indigenous people's closeness to nature and their knowledge of life. "For me, it was a return to my own indigenous roots; my great-grandmother still lived in the rainforest before she moved to Rio. The indigenous people have an incredible knowledge of life with the elements, animals, plants and healing," says Fernanda Brandão. "When our daughter Aurora was born, it was clear to us that we wanted to pass on this relationship with nature to her throughout her life."

The connection with the forest and the elemental forces of nature forms a kind of basic substance for Fernanda and Roman as a couple and family. So it was a natural next step for them to join forces at TARGET. "The indigenous people are the guardians of the forest, that's what has always driven Rüdiger Nehberg and me," says Roman Weber (Rüdiger Nehberg's son). "We see learning from them and contributing to the preservation of the last intact rainforests on this planet as a mission and joint task for future generations."

It had always been on Fernanda's to-do list to meet Rüdiger Nehberg in person. Unfortunately, that never happened. But thanks to and with Rüdiger Nehberg's son Roman Weber, Fernanda Brandão has come a special step closer to her wish. And Annette, Sophie and Roman agree: Rüdiger would have been thrilled with this powerful addition to the family! But he would have been particularly pleased about their TARGET commitment to the rainforest and this powerful perspective for the future.

Further information:

More about the well project with Fernanda Brandão and Roman Weber

More about the Huni Kuin