Community-based project in Baixada Fluminese, a needy suburb of Rio helps over 250 street children between the ages of 14-17, to overcome poverty & drug gangs by integration into art and education.
Drug trafficking offers favela youth things that society does not: status; money and access to goods; as well as social ascension; in a world with sub-par education and no real opportunity. In the impoverished community of Baixa Fluminese, where children as young as 8 years old get involved with the drug trade. Circo Baixada is bringing kids back to school and working to integrate them into sustainable and safe futures through education and activities that build self-esteem and self reliance.
Children who attend school enjoy after school programs in social circus & art; open classes to community youth for job training, Health information, citizen rights, & drug recovery/prevention; resources to choose a more productive life overcrime.
250 youth followed over a year 97% remain in school; keeping them off the street and away from crime with healthy alternatives and the ability to envision a future out of the drug trade.
This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).
