Sponsor a Child in Brazil

 
Map of Brazil
  • ChildFund came to Brazil: 1966
  • Population below poverty line: 26%

A Big Country with Big Challenges

The largest and most populous country in South America, Brazil is the home of a multicultural population composed of 190 million people. Although the country possesses a vast wealth of natural resources and is among the 10 largest economies in the world, Brazil occupies the eighth position in the world ranking of social inequality.

“My dream is to undo the image that outsiders and the media have of this village. I want to struggle and work so that this village may not be considered a miserable place.”

— Natanel

The largest part of the population suffers from extreme inequality in the distribution of benefits of the country’s economic wealth and from discrimination and prejudice. About 16 million people live below the poverty line, of which 50 percent are children, adolescents and youth. Challenges include overcoming poverty, inadequate quality of the teaching-learning system, poor health care and lack of housing.

Children at Risk

Brazil’s diverse population faces discrimination on a variety of fronts. Thousands suffer from food and nutrition insecurity and lack access to the basic resources for survival, such as clean water and basic sanitation.

The vulnerability of children is also connected to the fragility of family bonds and to the exposure to violence, exploitation, and physical and psychological abuses. Owing to the lack of schooling, quality jobs and developmental opportunities, thousands of youth become victims of crime and vices, which contributes to the increase in the homicide and premature mortality rates in the country.

Natanel says, “My dream is to undo the image that outsiders and the media have of this village. I want to struggle and work so that this village may not be considered a miserable place.”

What Is Being Done

ChildFund has operated in Brazil for 45 years and supports thousands of children, families and communities so that they may achieve a better and more dignified life. We operate in four states, 54 municipalities, and more than 800 communities. Diverse social programs and projects are developed focusing on the full development of the children and their community.

To strengthen the family and community bonds, workshops on family issues are offered, as well as community events and home visits from trained staff. Projects are completed that benefit the community, including creating rooftop rain reservoirs and community rainwater harvesting ponds.

To protect and help children grow, ChildFund offers workshops that increase the awareness of families in their role in child development. Classes also are offered to educate families in disease prevention and reproductive health.

We promote access to quality education and work closely with the schools. Awareness workshops are conducted with the school community on topics such as inclusive and democratic education, child empowerment within school life and the role of the family in the school life. To promote a culture of peace and to reduce the rate of violence in schools, family and community environment workshops are offered. Schools also receive support for the formation and strengthening of the school councils with effective participation of the children, adolescents and parents.

Youth are encouraged to participate in awareness and learning workshops on themes related to the rights of children with the aim of strengthening their rights and family and community relations. Youth groups and networks are established so that they may participate in campaigns, movements and decision-making processes at the community, municipal and regional levels in partnership with the civil society. They also learn about citizenship, leadership and the labor market.

Sponsor a child in Brazil and help us reach more people in need.
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ChildFund Brazil and the communities in which it works partners with the Municipal Councils for the Rights of Children and Adolescents to promote the rights, services and benefits available to children and their families. Local partnerships also are mobilized to strengthen the commitment of society with respect to children’s rights.