Training for Youth with Disabilities in Brazil

In this report we would like to share the story of Erica, a 23 year old Brazilian girl with visual and physical disabilities. Thanks to your donations, Erica, was empowered by digital literacy trainings (Excel, Power Point, Outlook, Word, etc.) which allowed her to pursue her dream of becoming a Nutritionist.

Erica lives with her mother in Arapoanga Planaltina, DF, an underserved and marginalized community in Brazil hit by violence, drug trafficking and consumption. However, her community’s harsh context has never stopped her of dreaming of becoming a Nutritionist and neither have her disabilities. She was born with a visual disability, which forces her to wear a prosthesis in her right eye, and several physical disabilities (Dislocation of the hip and Limb Length Discrepancy) but she has never backed down, showing resilience by being determined to build her own future.

Inspired by her resilience, Erica could graduate from middle school by her own means; however, she felt she lacked the digital abilities that would help become a professional. It was until Erica attended a POETA Center in Brasilia, run by OSCJC, that she found her passion for technology and could finally acquire digital skills.

Her high performance in the digital literacy and job readiness courses at the POETA Center enabled her to obtain an internship at the Jovem Candango do Governo do Distrito Federal Program, were she constantly exceled and impressed her supervisors. Inspired and empowered by the skills acquired at the POETA Center, she was selected to study Nutrition at SEP Saúde, a higher education institution in the area of health.

To empower more youth like Erica, donate $75 to provide a full scholarship to one particicpant.