“It was part of this work”. Simple and short, the phrase next to each photograph has the meaning of rescuing, valuing and inserting real people into the history of a gigantic project, built with concrete and steel: Itaipu Binacional. These are memories of dam builders gathered and shared under the management of João Thomazi, on a social media channel.
There are around 10 photographs compiled in the public Facebook group “Itaipu Binacional – Photos of the Plant”, from different periods of the monumental construction, which at its peak supported around 40 workers. Construction sites, cafeteria, sports teams, health services, parties and emblematic moments of the engineer are recorded.
The idea is to give visibility to the workers who, drawn from all corners of Brazil and Paraguay, were responsible for building the binational plant from dawn to dusk. In major projects, it is customary to cut the ribbon and finish the official speech, which then serves to promote the achievements of those who frequent high places and palaces.
Born in Lins (SP) in June 1960, João Thomazi worked for fifteen years on the project, between 1982 and 1997. “I accepted the invitation to work at Itaipu in search of a better life, and I came after the opportunity. I joined the plant in a construction company called Engetest, as a technical inspector,” he recalls.
The dam builder's DNA contributed to the decision of the newly graduated electrical technician. His father, Rubens Thomazi, known as Rubão, was already an employee of Itaipu, with experience in several other Brazilian power plants, such as Ilha Solteira (SP), Jupiá (MS) and Promissão (SP), and indicated what would be a professional opportunity.
Ten thousand members
The group that shares the collection of memories of the construction of Itaipu Binacional has a significant number of 10,5 members. Just as the publication of photographs, documents, videos and memories is constant, the inclusion of participants also continues, in an organic way, a network formed spontaneously.
The idea of collecting the photographs came about after he left the company, as the project was a constant topic of conversation among his friends. At the time, João Thomazi set up a maintenance company that provided services to Copel, and later opened a bar in the Vila A region, frequented by many former dam workers, he explains.
Reminiscences of the construction site drove the creation of the collection, which took place in 2013. “I saw that many of these workers had photos or souvenirs of the work, or of Floresta [Itaipu employees and family club], which were in their drawers practically lost, because who would they show them to?”, he explains.
From drawers to hammocks was a quick process. “I created the group so I could show these photos to my acquaintances and to those who were curious to see how the construction was carried out,” João highlights. First, it was intended to be just a more personal memory, grouping images of workers and work activities from different areas.
“That way we would have an overview of the work, how it worked and where the employees worked. Just telling others wouldn’t allow us to show such a big era,” he says. Soon, records of several people began to arrive, both former employees and their family members.
dam worker's pride
In published photographs, it is common for people to comment and tag friends or relatives, provide details of the photo and, of course, show great longing. Volunteer work helps bring people together, putting them in contact, demonstrating that the recovery and appreciation of memory drives solidarity and human interaction.
The first photos published in the group were taken by Mr. Rubão, because at the time the plant was being built, in the 1.970s and 1.980s, despite all the technological equipment involved, cell phones were not as easy to use as they are today. “You had to have a camera,” recalls João Thomazi.
The volume has grown. “Today, many people send their memories. The most interesting thing is that relatives of former workers ask to register that their father, grandfather, uncle or brother also worked on the project.
They are very proud,” he emphasizes. “Many of them have already passed away, but the request from their relatives is like a tribute to the hard work they did to make Itaipu a reality,” he adds.
Without technical resources, the memorialist stopped storing the content on his computer, which could no longer handle such a large volume of data. Today, the builder mines the images and transfers them from his cell phone to social networks, keeping neither digital nor physical files. “I do it by hand, because I like these memories,” he says.
Only those whose authorship or custody can be proven are included in the photography group, as in the case of family archives. “When I can verify who the author of the photo is, I always provide the person’s name. And the same goes for collections, I cite the source of the material,” explains João Thomazi.
Debt with memory
Workers who worked on the construction of Itaipu Binacional contributed not only in terms of labor to the operation of the plant that has accumulated the most electricity produced in the world to date. This human movement in the region helped to promote social and cultural exchanges.
Regarding recognition, João Thomazi believes that there was a huge gap between the public authorities and the working class “who are proud to have been part of this history”, he points out. “Nothing grand was done directly for the former employees,” he reflects, mentioning that he once asked the plant for support in promoting a meeting of professionals, an idea that was not even considered.
“I think the work of the Ecomuseum is important. I know that Itaipu Binacional has a space for dam workers there. But it is very restricted, very formal, and does not attract this class that was so important,” he reflects. “There is a lack of something aimed at workers. There would be many suggestions and reports of things that are already happening,” he says.
Among the ideas, he says, is that Vila A receives a monument alluding to the contribution of the dam builders.
“Time is passing, many of us are no longer here but in the memories of our families”, he warns, emphasizing the importance of valuing history and paying worthy tributes in recognition of the work of the men and women who built Itaipu.
While he collects and shares photos of his work colleagues, João Thomazi is organizing another in-person meeting for former employees, specifically for those who worked in the warehouse. The reunion of old friends brings together people from several states in Brazil and is scheduled for November of this year.
- Itaipu Binacional – Photos of the Power Plant
- Group created to value the memories and role of dam workers
- Click here and visit the special group on Facebook.
Magnificent work, the dam builders built the largest power plant in the world.
Congratulations to those who are organizing this meeting.
I am José Soares da Silva, Pernambuco. Thank you for this video. I worked there for five years as a welder. I was always a dam builder. Today I am retired. At 68 years old. And I still work. Thank you for everything. So many friends have passed away. But we are here. Paulo. Bogler. It is great that you shared this with us. We will remember you. Thank you.
I worked there for a few years, right at the beginning of the project. I saw and followed the growth of the project and the construction of villages A, B and C. Initially, I gave a lot of support to people who came to work on the project and didn't know anything about the city. I helped find housing, maids, schools, etc. for the more qualified professionals.
The villages were still under construction. I worked in the Social Welfare Department and later in the Training Center. I created and started the Unicon Newsletter. It was my idea, a way for the company to communicate with employees and their families on topics related to health, education, sports, and other work-related matters. I really want to meet the people who worked with me. I had a car accident at the time, it was very serious, I was out of work for a long time, but I came back and found everything different. I would like to meet the people who worked with me at the time again. Those were great times of integration among many people from all corners of Brazil. I miss it a lot! I made great friends!
Mr. João Thomazi's attitude was very good. I am a dam worker and I am very proud of him and I was happy with his attitude. This action of bringing his friends together was also very good. Congratulations, Mr. João.
Great work, brilliant idea…
Great initiative. Congratulations.
I worked on the construction of this plant for Mecânica Pesada. I really liked having lunch at the plant's restaurant, but on the Paraguayan side. There, they always had soup, even at lunch.
Incredible article, and beautiful attitude, as the daughter of a dam builder-surveyor, I am immensely moved, because I am proud of my origin, of being from Iguaçu and of being the daughter of one of the heroes who contributed to this great construction. My father was one of the first employees to be hired, he worked from 1973-1973 to 1987.
First of all, I would like to thank you and congratulate you on the initiative. I am Beno Leonardo Araujo de Freitas. I joined the project as a Requisitioned Worker in 1979 and retired in June 2012, with great pride.
Memory is to revive, I'm Milton and I worked at the Unicon contractor from 1985/1991 and 2 other companies afterwards, leaving in 1994. Sectors: Concrete plant, Cement injection, security guard nickname (macarrão)
It's an unforgettable period in my life
This is a great initiative. It's great for us to remember the good times when we worked on what was considered the project of the century: Itaipu! I can say that I was part of the construction of Itaipu. I worked on the construction site from 1981 to 1995. I started in the Appropriation department and after a year I went to the Warehouse, where I took care of the inventory control that was done on the computer at Unicon's central office. Every day I had to prepare the papers and take them to be typed and follow the process and issue the inventory control list for the warehouse. Those were good times, hard to forget...
It was my first job
The one who appears in the photo next to Brasilia from Itaipu's security, Silvio Sasdelli, besides being a friend, was my fellow countryman who died in the spillway when he was saving some fishermen and the engine broke down, he and another were swallowed by the whirlpool. Today the last avenue in Vila B bears his name.
Hello everyone, my name is Mario Coser, I worked at Unicon, in the training department. From 1978 to 1984. I am a friend of Telma Sanches de Cristo. We worked together, I would like you to pass on my contact information to her, best regards
The fashion show case... the singer's show there... it's not a fashion show... but rather a springs show... it had nothing to do with Unión or Itaipu, it was a dance hall... I was there on the day of the show.
Congratulations on your work, my father worked at únicon, how do I see the entire collection?
I am proud to have worked for a period at Unibanco, which was responsible for paying Unicon employees. We spent two days counting the money and putting it in envelopes so that the following days we could pay the workers in person, all of this in the so-called “buracão”, which is now covered by water. (late 2s and early 70s)
I have a friend who worked as a cook at Itaipu.
Congratulations for keeping alive the history of the construction of the largest power plant on the planet to date. I worked as a shift engineer on the construction of the diversion channel power plant from 1986 to 1989, then moved on to Logos for 1 year and then Itaipu operation until I retired in November 2016.
I miss these hydroelectric plants, built during the military era. I'm from Andradina, SP. I started on Ilha Solteira, then Itaipu and ended up in Tucurui, PA. I was a construction inspector, I inspected the EFS a lot, then I went to Vertedouro. I miss my true friends, both Paraguayans and Brazilians or Brazilian-Paraguayans, as they say. Hugs.
I worked there from 1981 to 1990, when I started as an electrician's assistant. And in 1985, I was classified as a maintenance electrician. It was my first registered job. It was a good time to work on that gigantic project. The company I worked for was (Unicon), a very good company, in fact it was a consortium of companies. My nickname was (Red-Foot).