Brazil: programs & priorities

ChildFund Australia's affiliate organisation in Brazil has been working in the country since 1952 and currently assists over 300,000 children and their family members in 820 urban and rural communities in Ceara, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte and Sao Paulo.

ChildFund in Brazil's education component in Brazil includes day-care centres for children aged two to six years whose parents work away from home. Children enrolled at day-care centres participate in development activities and take advantage of the safe, nurturing environment provided by ChildFund.

Older children study at local public schools, but spend half the day at the ChildFund centres where they receive a nutritious meal, homework supervision and attend remedial classes when necessary.

In addition to health, nutrition, sanitation, micro-enterprise, education and early childhood development programs, ChildFund in Brazil has several innovative programs including The Agricultural Family School, adult literacy classes, teacher training and vocational training.

Development in progress

ChildFund in Brazil is working with families in numerous sanitation programs and clean water initiatives. ChildFund in Brazil promotes water resource management by constructing rooftop water catchment systems which collect water for household use.

In cooperation with the Auburn University, ChildFund in Brazil has also restored water reservoirs to the Jequitinhonha Valley, literally bringing many dying communities back to life.