4 questions for... Hosti José, TARGET's civil engineer in Brazil's Amazon rainforest

In this series, we introduce you to people who are working with TARGET e. V. to end female genital mutilation and to protect indigenous peoples and the rainforest. On social media and on our website, we answer the four questions you have asked us most frequently. Hosti José has been with us since 2000. He has built and maintains three TARGET health centers in the Waiãpi indigenous reserve (northern Brazil). He answers your questions in perfect old German, which he has inherited from his family, who emigrated to southern Brazil during the Second World War.

1) What was the biggest challenge in building the TARGET health centers in Brazil?

The health center that we built deep in the jungle in the village of Ytuwasu was a huge challenge. You can only get there by small boat via a winding river. You have to get everything up into the jungle: Building materials, food for the workers, hammocks to sleep in. Simply everything. You're busy day and night, you can't stop. Otherwise the construction will stop. And that can't happen. The problem is that fallen trees, rocks and undergrowth keep blocking the path. You have to stop and clear the river first. This means using chainsaws and physical strength to clear away the fallen trees. Depending on the water level in the river and the storm conditions, this is a repetitive, incredibly time-consuming and wet feat of strength for everyone involved. We almost capsized several times. There have been no injuries so far, but the risk is enormous: mosquitoes, malaria and dengue fever, injuries with a cleaver or chainsaw - it all almost happened. I myself have already contracted malaria seven times, dengue fever twice, over 100 leishmaniasis injuries and a few other tropical diseases. But that's part and parcel of building where nobody would actually build...

A fallen tree serves as building material

2) What was the biggest challenge you had to overcome during your 20 years working for Target?

The biggest difficulty continues to this day: Brazilian bureaucracy. Documents upon documents, until you have permission, until you have an answer, until you have made the right applications. But I think it's the same everywhere: bureaucracy holds me back, without it I could work much faster. But without a permit, nothing works in indigenous territory. That's understandable. Nevertheless, I would prefer it without it.
The road that leads into Waiãpi country is also always difficult: almost 400 kilometers, 220 kilometers of which are unpaved road on red earth. We get stuck in many places. Sometimes we have to let ourselves be pulled out of deep potholes, mud, mud, incredibly difficult when it rains.

A stuck off-road vehicle - sometimes you have to let yourself be pulled out

3) What are the main construction materials used for the buildings?

Most of the material we use is wood from trees that have already fallen on site but are still of very good quality. We cut the boards out of the trees by hand using chainsaws. These are trees that have been felled, for example, during planting by the Waiãpi for their fruit and vegetables and are handed over to us by the chiefs. We do not cut down any trees. It is all wood that is already on the ground. First-class wood for a decent station. And then we buy additional materials: Bricks, sand, cement, etc.

Wood that is already on the ground is processed further - no tree is cut down

4) What was the best moment for you while working for Target?

The best moment was the inauguration of the first TARGET hospital ward at the Waiãpi in the village of CTA in 2003, built by me in 2002. It was a sensible, fine inauguration ceremony! Not so easy, because the road had once again presented us with major challenges: Mud holes, digging the Toyota out of the red mud several times... But all the indigenous people from the surrounding villages had come. No one was absent. Chief Joãopiriá, who wears a prosthetic leg, which was also made possible by TARGET, thumped his chest and said: "Now the Waiãpi have a hospital. Hospital Waiãpi, a great, perfect and so beautiful building!" That made my heart beat faster. To be able to do such good work for a people and then to see their gratitude. The ward is absolutely vital for them.

Hosti 20 years ago at the inauguration of the first infirmary at the Waiãpi

5) Extra: How did you get to know Rüdiger Nehberg and TARGET e. V.

My friend Rougatto called me and told me that a German was in Macapá (capital of the state of Amapá, northern Brazil). And that the German wanted to talk to me because he wanted to get to know the Waiãpi. German? Great! My ancestors are German and came to Brazil as emigrants during the Second World War. I found that exciting! And I was looking forward to speaking German again. Rougatto organized a dinner for everyone without further ado. Over dinner with Annette and Rüdiger, a plan was immediately made: Obtain permission to enter the indigenous territory from the indigenous protection authority FUNAI, organize transport, off we go! This is how the first visit to the Waiãpi and my TARGET trip, which continues to this day, came about.

Rüdiger and Hosti making plans at the start of the Waiãpi project

Further information

Here you can find out more about our work with the Waiãpi and Hosti's Bau-Meister-Werke.

Do you like our series? Follow us on Facebook and Instagram and ask your own questions to our colleagues in the next round.

Further episodes of the series "4 questions for...":
TARGET board member Sophie Weber