Indigenous Youth Achieving Dreams in Brazil

In 2014, MSMC has continued to develop its indigenous Pitaguary youth project with a focus on professional development and socio-educational support by helping the youth get into college, take technical courses, and prepare them for the job market. This project benefits youth ages 14 to 25 in the indigenous community of Maracanaú, Ceará, Brazil.

The last few months have been very busy! Take a look at some of the activities completed:

• Student enrollment in new schools for 2014
• Helping students with college entrance exams (ENEM, SISU, PROUNI)
• Indigenous rituals in dialogue with the Lakota culture (sacred sauna) and strengthening of the Pitaguary community through the traditional Toré dance
• Participation in community events that promote human rights, health, and indigenous and environmental education
• Three students enrolled in a "vestibular" (like the SAT) college entrance exam prep course at Ari de Sá school in Fortaleza, with a focus on the Medicine major
• Three students enrolled in an English class
• Monthly meetings with parents and students to talk about program progress
• 4 youths participated in the 13th Inter-ecclesiastical Meeting of Cebs in Juazeiro do Norte in Ceará, Brazil

As a final point, January through March of 2014 ended the scholarship programs that allowed students to study in private schools, so all current students in the program are studying in public schools. 6 have finished high school and 12 will finish in 2015. 

Links:

• News on event participation
• News from Inter-ecclesiastical event
• More from the 13th Inter-ecclesiastical event