Latest update

Compassion’s holistic child development programs are designed to be adapted to suit the local context and needs. In Brazil, the current primary areas of focus for our church partners are:

  • Providing children in poverty with access to healthcare
  • Helping children develop basic literacy and numeracy skills
  • Protecting children from abuse and exploitation
  • Addressing the deeply ingrained issue of social inequality

The majority of our church partnerships in Brazil are found in rural areas and jungle communities in the Amazon where poverty is most severe. Twenty per cent of our Brazilian National Office staff are former participants of our program and are now helping to share God’s love with the next generation.

Watch the latest video update from Brazil below to learn more.

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Country update

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How you can pray

Thank you for praying for staff, local churches, children and families in Brazil.

Please join us in praying for the following:

  • Pray for peace and safety over schools, as a recent attack has left many parents shaken.
  • Pray that God would protect people from Rocky Mountain spotted fever.
  • Pray for an end to the sexual exploitation of children, particularly young girls in poverty.
  • Pray that children in poverty will receive access to adequate healthcare.
  • Pray that God will bless the efforts of our local church partners as they invest in educating the next generation.
  • Pray that God would provide economic stability to the country of Brazil as parents and caregivers seek to provide for their families.
  • Pray for God’s protection for the children and families who are most vulnerable in the rainy season.
Supporting mums and babies in Brazil

Supporting mums and babies in Brazil

Gabriella discovered her local Compassion centre while pregnant with her second child, Ithallo. The unexpected pregnancy brought her a lot of concern, as she and her husband were already struggling to support their daughter. In the region where Gabriella lives, it is very common to hear stories of mothers who lose their babies because they were born too late. Many of the cases are the result of medical negligence or lack of qualified care. But when Gabriella enrolled in the Mums and Babies program, loving staff were determined this would not be her story.   Read more open_in_new

Supporting mums and babies in Brazil

Gabriella is 20 years old and the mother of two children: Dávilla, 4 years old, and Ithallo, 2 years old. She lives in a small extension of her mother’s house with her husband Bruno.

Gabriella discovered her local Compassion centre while pregnant with her second child, Ithallo. The unexpected pregnancy brought her a lot of concern, as she and her husband were already struggling to support their daughter.

But when Gabriella enrolled in the Mums and Babies program, she found a welcoming community where she could learn how to best take care of her children alongside other mothers. It was this support she needed most when it was time to give birth.

In the region where Gabriella lives, it is very common to hear stories of mothers who lose their babies because they were born too late. Many of the cases are the result of medical negligence or lack of qualified care.

When Gabriella felt it was time to give birth, she went to the hospital to seek care. As with her first pregnancy, she felt no pain, and the hospital doctors sent her home repeatedly, insisting she wasn't ready to give birth. After the fourth attempt at the hospital, she thought she would lose her baby.

“As the days went by, I just remembered the countless stories of children in our community who were stillborn because their mothers were forced to wait too long," says Gabriella. “The worst thoughts came to my mind, and I was afraid that this would also be our story.”

But when Gabriella went to her local Compassion centre for help, the doctor at the centre examined her and realised that she was well past her due date to deliver. The centre's volunteers worked with local authorities so Gabriella could be admitted to hospital. Because of this, she was able to gave birth to her son Ithallo, a healthy boy.

“I am deeply grateful to everyone at the centre who has supported me in everything these past years. They help us with food baskets, exams, medicines, and even psychological care,” says Gabriella. “I am extremely grateful to God for everything I learned from them and everything they do for me. Whenever I remember that if it weren’t for the Compassion centre I might not have my son with me today, my heart swells even more with gratitude.”

A snapshot of Compassion's Child Sponsorship Program in Brazil

Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.

  • Children aged 1 to 3 receive home-based care.
  • Children aged 3 to 5 visit the Compassion centre for four hours a day, two days a week.
  • Children aged 6 to 11 attend the centre for three hours a day, two days a week.
  • Students aged 12 to 18 attend the centre for four hours once a week.
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Compassion Program Activities in Brazil

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Compassion assisted children in Brazil typically attend program activities at their local child development centre before or after school. Here is an example of what a typical program day looks like for children in Brazil.

Devotional time - Children are taught to pray.

Spiritual lessons - Children sing songs and learn Bible stories. Compassion Brazil gives age appropriate Bibles to children when they are six, 10 and when they graduate from the Child Sponsorship Program.

Break and snack time - Children can play in a safe environment and develop friendships. A snack often consists of an egg sandwich with tea, fruit shake and crackers, fruit salad, or bread.

Social-emotional lessons - Children learn conflict resolution skills and how to develop healthy self-esteem and a godly character. Children often come from challenging home environments and are taught social and personal skills.

Lunch and social time - Children generally receive a meal such as pasta, rice, vegetables and/or meat.

Health lessons - Children are taught practical health and hygiene tips.

Letter writing and career planning - Older children work with local staff to identify their strengths and interests, setting realistic goals for their future.

In addition to Compassion’s curriculum, children have opportunities to participate in activities such as sports tournaments, camps, dance performances and job fairs, as well as excursions to parks, museums, zoos and local companies. Older students are typically involved in skills workshops such as hairdressing, information technology and office skills.

The greatest needs impacting children living in poverty in Brazil

5.8%

of people live in extreme poverty

37%

of rural households lack access to basic sanitation

14

babies under the age of one die per 1000 births

Brazil is South America's biggest country and the world's fifth largest. Slightly smaller than China and slightly bigger than Australia, it borders every other country in South America except Ecuador and Chile, and makes up 47 per cent of the continent.

The country covers three time zones and is renowned across the world for its vibrant carnival, verdant rainforests and world class football. Brazil is one of the world’s most biodiverse countries, with a total of four million plant and animal species. The nation is also home to countless UNESCO World Heritage Sites and has a rich culture with European and indigenous influences.

Social inequality is a major issue in Brazil and the challenges for children in poverty differ in rural and urban communities. In cities, drug and gang problems are rife. In rural areas, access to adequate health, sanitation and education facilities is limited.

Many indigenous groups, particularly in the Amazon region, lack access to healthcare and other services. They have been hit hard by the twin threats of the COVID-19 pandemic and rampant deforestation, which is often driven by cattle ranchers, illegal mining and drug cartels encroaching on their traditional lands.

Our national staff in Brazil are committed to empowering our local church partners to make sustainable changes in their own communities.

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