Children playing hopscotch - CV Rio Bonito, Brazil…

Children playing hopscotch - CV Rio Bonito, Brazil

Brazil is the largest country in South America, covering an area of 8,511,996 square kilometers and occupying almost half of the land mass on the continent. By far the most populous nation in the region with more than 185.6 million inhabitants (IBGE, 2006), Brazil continues to pursue industrial and agricultural growth and development of its interior, and is South America’s leading economic power. But Brazil still faces many challenges, among them a highly unequal income distribution, high domestic and foreign debt and rampant urban violence.

Brazil can be divided into distinct social, geographical and economic regions. Covering half of the country, the North contains the dense and tropical lowland basin of the Amazon, the world's largest rain forest and largest river in volume of water. In the Northeast, the most economically disadvantaged and heavily settled region of the country, agriculture is the main economic activity. The Southeast region, the country's wealthiest area, contains half of Brazil's total population as well as the urbanized and industrial centers of São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, the third and ninth largest cities in the world.

Brazil's demographic density is low compared to other countries, with its population concentrated mainly along the Atlantic coastal regions of the southeastern and northeastern states. By 2025, the population is projected to reach 218 million. (UNDP, 2004)

Despite having the largest economy in South America, there are still more than 15 million Brazilians living on less than USD 1 per day and more than 42 million living on less than USD 2 per day (UNDP, 2004). Brazil’s debt service as a percentage of exports of goods and services rose from 19% in 1990 to more than 48% in 2004, and the average annual rate of inflation from 1990-2004 was 103% (UNICEF). Also, the median income of the wealthiest ten percent of the population is almost 30 times greater than that of the poorest 40 percent, whereas in other countries with comparable levels of development it is ten times greater. Between 1960 and 1990, the share of national income of the poorer half of the population fell from 18 to 12 percent, and that of the richest 10 percent increased from 54 to 65%. In 2005, the ratio stood at 10% for the poorer half, and 75% for the wealthiest ten per cent (IPEA).

SOS Children’s Villages in Brazil: SOS Children’s Villages began its work in Brazil as a response to manifest poverty in the country in the late 1960s, and by 1970 the first three SOS Children’s Villages - in Brasilia, Porto Alegre and Poà - were already in operation. Brazil’s economy continued to suffer in the 1970s, 1980s and especially the 1990s, necessitating the construction of additional SOS Children’s Villages. The increase of orphaned and disadvantaged children in Brazil is reflected in school attendance and literacy rates. Children in the wealthiest families of Brazil attend school at a rate of 98 percent, while 25 percent of the most economically disadvantaged children are still not attending school. Brazil's overall literacy rate is 83 percent (UNICEF); among whites, 16 percent of the population is illiterate while that of blacks and Amerindians stands at approximately 35 percent.

SOS Children’s Villages has responded to Brazil’s economic troubles by constructing many additional SOS Children’s Villages facilities. Many youths resort to violence and crime when left uncared for or abandoned. This violence has disrupted the social and economic fibre of Brazilian life. SOS Children’s Villages Brazil has constructed SOS Social Centres to promote family strengthening initiatives and to ease the pressures on working families. The SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools and SOS Vocational Training Centres enable both children and youths from both SOS Children’s Villages and the surrounding neighbourhoods to receive an excellent education and useful job training skills. There are 14 SOS Children’s Villages, 13 SOS Youth Facilities, eight SOS Social Centres and four SOS Hermann Gmeiner Schools operating in Brazil today.

The 6 villages for 2006 Village: SOS Children’s Village Igarassu is situated 36 km north of Recife. Located in northeast Brazil and built as a port city along tropical, white-sand beaches, Recife is the capital of Pernambuco state, and has a population of almost 1.5 million inhabitants. Pernambuco is a very poor and densly-populated state in Brazil, with a disproportionately high unemployment rate and a large homeless population. Per capita income is less than 57% of the national average. It was for this reason that SOS Children’s Villages chose Pernambuco as a site for one of the 6 villages for 2006. As part of a family strengthening programme, SOS Children’s Villages will construct an SOS Social Centre in Recife that will provide social services for more than 300 children and their families.

One of the strongest supporters of the new SOS Children’s Village Igarassu is Brazilian football star and "FIFA for SOS Children’s Villages" ambassador Juninho Pernambucano. Juninho was born in Recife and has a very close attachment to the city. He has pledged his support to the 6 villages for 2006 campaign

Progress on the new 6 villages for 2006 village is being made steadily. The foundation stone laying ceremony took place on 26 December 2005, and the selection and training of SOS mothers has already begun for the new SOS Children's Village Igarassu. Altogether, fourteen family houses will be constructed which will provide a new home for approximately 130 children. During the construction period, the SOS mothers and their children will be accommodated in rented houses located in the surrounding communities. Pernambuco's Vice-Governor Mendonca Fihlo expressed his appreciation for the initiative: "In Pernambuco, the construction of the Children's Village and the social centre represents an exemplary model which will set an example for other social initiatives in the state."

SOS Children’s Villages is confronting the difficult challenges it faces in Brazil head-on, and providing an optimistic, hopeful solution for many orphaned, abandoned and disadvantaged children. (hl)

UNDP - United Nations Development Programme UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund IBGE - Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística (Brazil) IPEA - Instituto de Pesquisa Econômica Aplicada (Brazil)

Contact: Aldeias Infantis SOS Brasil Rue Antonio Coelho 400 - Villa Mariana CEP 04011-061 Sao Paulo, SP Brazil email: sandra.greco@aldeiasinfantis.org.br www.aldeiasinfantis.org.br