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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:
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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Thank you for praying for staff, local churches, 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: After periods of closure and reduced capacity during COVID-19 lockdowns, child development centres in Brazil have now reopened to deliver their usual program activities to children and youth living in poverty.
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
Brazil is South America's biggest country and the world's fifth largest. Slighter smaller than China and slighter 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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