Description and Impact

Salvador’s favelas (shantytowns) are characterized by poverty, violence, and disease. Education is one of the only avenues out of the hardships of these slums. However, Brazilian public schools are underfunded and their teachers are poorly paid, and often, poorly educated. These schools also lack after-school programs to supplement the children’s education, keep them off the street and prevent them from joining gangs. ProWorld seeks to provide children from from these favelas with a pathway out of poverty by giving them a quality education with an emphasis on marketable skills. ProWorld also provides children with after-school programs to keep them out of trouble. Parents are given non-perishable food in return for their children having a 90% or higher attendance record. This provides further incentive for kids to go to school and to stay in school.

What is the overall goal of the project? The overall goal of this project is to provide disadvantaged children from low income families with a pathway out of poverty through education.

• Quality Education– This program provides education and professional development to children ages 5 to 12 years old.
• After school programs – ProWorld works to ensure that children engage in educational and fun activities after school.
• Parental involvement – This program provides material aid to parents in return for keeping their children in school. This is an important way to make children’s education a priority.  

What's Included

• Homestay with a carefully-screened Brazilian family
• Daily meals
• Health and travel insurance
• Onsite transportation and airport pickup
• Portuguese classes
• Project funding and support
• Cultural and adventure excursions
• 24-hour support from ProWorld Brazil staff
• Access to Casa ProWorld Brazil – unlimited filtered water, wireless internet