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Our plan in Brazil
Plan is working at the grassroots level in Brazil to help communities in the north east states of Maranhao and Pernambuco to make real and lasting change, so that their children have the opportunity to reach their full potential. Sponsor a child in Brazil.
Plan has worked in Brazil (population 190 million) in South America since 1997 and presently works in two states in the most poverty-stricken region - the northeastern district. While Brazil has the seventh largest economy in the world, 22 million children live below the poverty line in families who earn less than $2 per day. Plan’s programs aim to address the following issues affecting children:
- Inadequate child protection from abuse and exploitation
- Poor early childhood care
- Limited access to quality education
- Low family income
- Lack of opportunities for participation and expression and weak democratic structures
Plan’s programs and strategies to address these issues include:
Child protection
Protection of children in Brazil is very uneven and the state structures, which provide services, are under resourced. Plan Brazil’s Strengthening protection of the rights of children and adolescents against mistreatment, exploitation, and violence program aims to make it safe for children and youth to live in their communities. The program also aims to provide them with the skills to exercise their rights when these are violated and opportunities to participate in community governance.
Early childhood care and maternal health
For children living in poverty in Brazil, malnutrition, lack of access to drinking water and proper sanitation and environmental degradation are part of everyday life. Plan Brazil’s Development of children between zero to six years old program focuses on the health and development of children in the crucial early years.
Education
In Brazil, lack of access and poor quality education from pre-school, primary, secondary and vocational training means many disadvantaged children end up dropping out of school to work as child labourers. In addition, there are few opportunities for these children to engage in cultural, sport and recreation activities. Plan Brazil’s Learning for an active and healthy life program aims to give children the opportunity of good health through proper nutrition, a quality education, and opportunities to play.
Family income
The two states of Maranhao and Pernambuco, where Plan works in the heart of north east Brazil, have a ratio of 64 per cent and 75 per cent of families respectively living on less than $2 per day. It is a poverty-stricken semi-arid region, where children are the most vulnerable. Plan Brazil’s Sustainable livelihoods program aims to help families increase their income through self-sustaining income generating projects.
Strengthening communities
Strengthening communities so they can lead their own child-centred community development programs is the ultimate goal of Plan. And Plan Brazil’s Developing and strengthening communities program, which includes children’s participation at all levels, aims to meet this goal.
See Plan's work in progress
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