Ground-breaking programme secures access to education for 16,000 children living in Rio’s slums
Educate A Child (EAC) a programme of the Education Above All Foundation in partnership with Apprendiz and the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro hosted a major event "Aluno Presente" (Present Student) on Saturday 13th August at Bayt Qatar, Qatar’s Olympic Committee house to announce that they have successfully enrolled 16,239 children living in slums in the heart of Rio de Janeiro into primary school in under two years.
Life can be very difficult for the population of the favelas (slums) in Rio. Life expectancy is just 48, there is high unemployment and violence is rife. For the thousands of children growing up there, gaining an education can be the only life line out of poverty.
In partnership with EAC, Aprendiz is expanding the Department of Education’s Schools of Tomorrow program in Brazil to ensure quality basic education for the children of Rio de Janeiro’s favelas. Some of the boys and girls who have benefitted from this programme attended the event, took part in art, music and dance activities to highlight how the different cultural identities of Qatar and Brazil are working together to provide them with a chance of a better future. EAC's ability to forge positive and constructive relationships with these partners has been key to successfully delivering for some of Brazil’s poorest children.
The success of this programme is based on three key strands:
- A data system that enables the staff to identify and collate information on the most effective support for out of school children
- A field team with trained managers and professionals skilled in dealing with some of the social problems faced by children growing up in poverty;
- And close partnership working with local partners and municipal governments to help children and their families access their basic rights
Given the success of this model, EAC and its partners have set a new target of reintegrating almost 5,000 more children and adolescents into education by the end of 2016. That would bring the total to 21,000 – a significant achievement in such a short timeframe.
Following the event, Fahad Al-Sulaiti, Chief Executive of the Education Above All Foundation, said:
“The Aluno Presente" was a fantastic event which highlighted the important way education offers a future to children in Brazil, and across the world.
“This was also an exciting opportunity to showcase our successful partnership with the Association Apprentice School City in Rio de Janeiro and the important role played by the Municipal Secretary of Education in supporting the efforts of this project which aims to reintegrate 21,000 out of school children and adolescents by the end of 2016."
