Prevent Youth Involvement in Drug Trafficking

Over the last three months, we've been busy keeping up with the after-school classes for the children of Julio Otoni. We also wanted to know what they enjoy most at the community center, so we chatted with some of the children. Turns out, what they love the most is their teachers aunty Lica, aunty Shiley, and aunty Carina, ( in Brazil they call their teacher Aunty ) and they're big fans of the English and computer classes. Plus, there's a growing interest in theater classes! 

We're thinking about adding theater to our programs in the future when we have enough resources, but right now, we're focused on beautifying the center for its big 20th anniversary in July. 

To mark this Milestone, we're planning a one-day event to beautify the center together with the Julio Otoni children and their parents. We'll have an artist on board to lead an art workshop so that everyone can get involved in creating a harmonious space for the children and celebrating our two decades of service. Your donation will go directly toward maintenance work, hiring the artist, getting materials, and snacks to keep the energy up.

Thank you for being part of our journey of empowering the children of Julio Otoni for the past 20 years. Please don't hesitate to share with your friends and family.

In Brazil, it's currently summer vacation, and many mothers are working, posing a challenge for families in the favela who struggle to find a safe space for their children during this time. For 15 years, our community center has functioned as a summer activities center, adapting our yearly curriculum into a special intensive summer calendar.

For the past three months, we've welcomed 42 children aged 6 to 15, offering daily classes in subjects like math, sports, computer skills, and art. Additionally, we are hosting an international volunteer who gives weekly English classes throughout the entire summer. As we navigate the vacation period, we're committed to continue supporting the children in our community. 

With your continued support, we aim to extend these after-school programs, ensuring a safe and enriching environment for the children in Julio-Otoni, where they can learn, grow, and overcome the challenges they face.