Job Training and Internships for Favela Youth

Summary

Scholarships provide 20 Rio youths with long term training in performance art, circus, music and professionalism in order to provide an enjoyable but tangible income alternative to drug trafficking.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

In this favela, where whole families live on less than $75/month, youths turn to violence and the drug trade as the ‘best option’ available to improve their social and financial status. Since 2000 the ‘Grow & Live’ project has been promoting alternatives in these marginalized communities and has now introduced this unique financial scholarship program which realistically enables participants to give a long term commitment to their learning and eventually go on to find alternative employment.

How will this project solve this problem?

A balance of practical and interpersonal training is provided: circus skills, theatre, music, dance, communication and professionalism. Once trained, performances are carried out for businesses, parties and the public to generate much-needed income.

Potential Long Term Impact

Provides a respectable, sustainable income outside of trafficking for these youths & their families, whilst increasing their self esteem. In turn these youths then become an example and spread a wider message through their actions and performances

Project Message

Project leaders desperately ask us for job training and internships for youth in order that when they finally graduate from programs they see the value in the changes they have made in their lives.
- Christine Clauser, Dreams Can Be Foundation Development Director

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources