Brazil

ChildFund Brazil promotes access to high-quality education and works closely with schools, offering awareness workshops with the school community on topics such as inclusive and democratic education, child empowerment within school life and the role of the family in education. Family and community environment workshops promote a culture of peace and help reduce violence in schools. Schools also receive support for the formation and strengthening of school councils, with effective participation of children, adolescents and parents.

To complement their school activities, students participate in socio-educational activities focused on citizenship, social justice and peace. In 2015, more than 34,000 children ages 6-14 took part in our “Educated and Confident Children” program.

For Brazilian teens and young adults, ChildFund offers awareness and learning workshops on themes related to the rights of children, with the aim of strengthening their understanding of their rights. We also support efforts to combat violence against youth, encouraging dialogue and civic involvement. Youth groups and networks open the way for them to participate in campaigns, movements and decision-making processes at the community, municipal and regional levels, and in partnership with civil society. Brazilian youth also learn about citizenship, leadership and the labor market. More than 12,000 teens took part in “Skilled and Involved Youth” projects in Brazil in 2015.

ChildFund Brazil works with local partner organizations throughout the country, providing children and family members with education, good nutrition, livelihood support and tools to combat social problems like drug abuse, gang and domestic violence, and child labor.

In parts of southeastern Brazil, drought conditions have caused a shortage of water for agriculture and even a lack of clean drinking water for some families. Over the years, ChildFund has worked with local partners and regional government agencies to help train community members in eastern Brazil to monitor water quality, making sure it’s healthy enough for drinking. They collect samples, which are tested for coliform bacteria and other waterborne pollutants, and share information with the rest of the community. The “water watchers” project has helped communities be prepared for droughts and water shortage, as well as creating greater awareness among families.

ChildFund has also partnered with Procter & Gamble’s Children’s Safe Drinking Water program to provide clean water for 24,252 people in Brazil’s Jequitinhonha Valley in nine municipalities. In less than two years, this partnership achieved its goal in guaranteeing access to clean water. P&G has provided water purification packets to communities all over the world for more than 10 years, allowing anyone — even children — to purify dirty water in a matter of minutes. In October 2015, we began working with P&G to train 300 community volunteers in this region to educate families about water purification efforts.