Brazil Santa Maria
The Santa Maria School in Igarassu, in the northeast of Brazil, was founded in 1969 to respond to the educational needs of a non-literate population. Some people from the Focolare Movement started evening classes for adults, which were immediately extended to their children because there were no schools in that area.
In 1992, with the increase in students and the suspension of scholarships by the government, AFN began to support the project with its programmes to support nutrition, schooling and primary medical care for vulnerable children and families. The project, carried out by the Society Focolare Movement Northeast, aims at the human and integral promotion of families residing in those lands, through actions to support schooling and vocational training and to strengthen parenting skills.
DEFINITION OF THE ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CONTEXT
Since the 2000s, Brazil’s economy has grown at a high rate thanks to the expansion of the workforce and foreign demand, especially for raw materials. The newfound growth and social policies implemented by governments have fostered the impressive result of halving the poverty rate and greatly reducing social inequalities. However, since 2012, once the favourable conditions that had promoted its progress have vanished, structural problems have resurfaced that have not only slowed down the country’s development but have also led to a deterioration in social equilibrium. The multiple political scandals, corruption, rampant cases of homophobia, femicides and youth suicides are in the news constantly. These factors, together with rising unemployment, create insecurity in families and even despair, especially among young people.
GEOGRAPHIC LOCATION
Igarassu, in the state of Pernambuco, has more than 117,000 inhabitants. In 2015, the city occupied second place in the ranking of municipalities located in the Metropolitan Mesoregion of Recife with the highest homicide rate. The context is dominated by violence, indifference and precariousness. All social groups are affected by these situations, especially young people, who are particularly vulnerable and more exposed to the danger of alcohol and drugs.
COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE OF THE PROJECT
St. Mary’s School was officially recognized by the Secretariat of Education in Pernambuco in 1982. It is a legally constituted non-profit organization, with the mission of promoting the integral formation of children and adolescents, involving their families, encouraging them to value human relationships, participation as citizens, aiming at universal fraternity. . The structure consists of 11 classrooms, a secretary’s office, 4 rooms for pedagogical support, classrooms for social work, a computer lab, a library, a kitchen, 2 recreational areas, a lecture hall and 14 bathrooms.
IMPLEMENTED ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES
- • Complete primary school (1st to 9th grade)
- “Orquestra Talentos a Serviço da Paz”: orchestra made up of 30 members, mainly wind and percussion instruments.
- “Clube do Doar”: a project to spread the culture of sharing
- • Career guidance for 9th grade students
- • Regular interviews with parents/guardians
- • Participation in Mathematical Olympiad, Astronomy and Poetry Competitions
- • Peace Education Workshops
- “Ligadão.com” and “com”: Annual festivals with thematic workshops, respectively for teenagers between 13 and 15 years old and for children between 4 and 12 years old
- “Ricordando Chiara”project: Annual celebrations to remember Chiara Lubich, founder of the Focolare Movement
- • Competition of the Town Hall ““School Grade 10”: ”: awarding of students with profit
BENEFICIARIES OF THE ACTION
Saint Mary`s School is attended by 326 children and adolescents (4-15 years old). The entire community of Igarassu is an indirect beneficiary of the project, as it is actively involved through volunteering, invitations to workshops and cultural and social events.
ACTIONS
- • Sponsorship – SAD
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, school-training and sanitation programme aimed entirely at the individual minor and his or her family, both of which are part of the AFN project.
- • Project Support – SOP
This is an ongoing commitment to support a food, educational, educational and health and hygiene programme aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.
- Donations
These are free-flow payments, in support of a food, school-training and health and hygiene programme aimed at the entire group of minors and their families who are part of the AFN project.
WHAT YOU CAN DO
- Long-distance support of a child. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details https://afnonlus.org/contatti/#world
Reason for payment ‘New SAD Brazil Santa Maria‘ and in subsequent payments ‘SAD Brazil Santa Maria renewal‘.
- Support for the project. Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and payment details.
Reason for payment ‘New SAD Brazil Santa Maria’ and in subsequent payments ‘SAD Brazil Santa Maria renewa.
- Donations – Please contact the coordinators in your country to confirm the annual amount and donation details.