raised to Restore a Generation
raised so far to restore a generation through education. LEARN MORE.
close
Restrictions and lockdown measures in Brazil during the COVID-19 pandemic varied according to location. At the end of 2021 and the beginning of 2022, Brazil experienced a huge influx in case numbers that impacted all our local church partners, many of whom had only recently restarted normal programming.
Most child development centres in Brazil have now recommenced centre-based activities for registered children. Since the beginning of the pandemic, local church partners have delivered more than 1,025,000 food packs and 534,000 hygiene kits to benefit families.
Our church partners in Brazil adapted the way they provided support to children and families during lockdowns by gathering in small groups, conducting home visits or making phone contact. Letters between sponsored children and supporters were delayed by the pandemic. Local staff are diligently working through the backlog of letters, and we expect communications between children and their sponsors to become more regular throughout this year.
Watch the latest video update from Brazil below to learn more.
READ MOREkeyboard_arrow_down READ LESSkeyboard_arrow_up
The situation
At least 497 Compassion assisted children and families have been impacted by flooding in Pernambuco, Brazil. Heavy rain has resulted in several rivers overflowing in several cities. Many families require shelter and support.
Global Compassion impact
Number of local church partners affected: 8
Number of Compassion assisted children affected: 497
New information
Compassion Brazil is providing food, water and hygiene products for impacted families. Compassion assisted children are being relocated where possible to safer shelters. Some Compassion activities cannot run as facilities are being used to support families in affected areas.
Prayer
Please pray for the safety of children and families as they recover from the impacts of the flooding.
Thank you for praying for staff, children and families in Brazil.
With Brazil in the peak of the pandemic in mid-May, hospitals prioritised treating patients with suspected COVID-19 or those with extreme emergencies. So when 13-year-old José was complaining of pain in his lower abdomen, he visited a neighbourhood health centre only to be given pain medication and sent home. His condition grew worse from there. Read more open_in_new
Please note: Due to the current pandemic, many child development centres are operating differently in order to keep their communities safe and abide by local restrictions. Our local church partners continue to meet the urgent needs of the children through home-based or small-group care.
Compassion’s program is contextualised across countries and communities, as well as age groups.
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.
of people live below the poverty line
of rural households lack access to basic sanitation
babies under the age of one die per 1000 births
One of the world’s biggest economies and a rising global power, Brazil has struggled for decades with a growing gap between rich and poor—a gap that has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Officially in recession and struggling to rebound from the terrible health toll of 2020, Brazil faces an uncertain future—and the nation’s poor remain marginalised.
Home to more than 210 million people, Brazil has the largest population in Latin America, with the majority of citizens living in industrial cities, like Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Rapid growth in the urban population has created serious social, environmental and political problems, with millions of people living in slums and on the streets.
Children living on the streets are subject to drug and solvent abuse, as well as prostitution and violence. As a result of extreme poverty, child prostitution is on the rise, particularly in areas frequented by foreign tourists such as Rio de Janeiro, Recife and Fortaleza.
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.
In rural regions of the country, literacy, infant survival rates and access to water facilities are well below the national average. Only 63 per cent of people in rural areas have access to basic sanitation facilities, compared to 94 per cent in the cities.
READ MOREkeyboard_arrow_down READ LESSkeyboard_arrow_up
These photos are a fascinating, and at times confronting, insight into the lives of children around the world in Compassion’s program... Read more
It can be disappointing if your sponsored child hasn’t responded to your questions or even mentioned the letter you sent them. Here’s why this could be happening, plus handy tips to prevent it. .. Read more
Try asking one of these curious questions in your next letter to spark a meaningful conversation with your sponsored child... Read more