Every day, children are forced to face the violence, hunger and isolation of life on the streets of Brazil.

Recent figures estimate that over 7 million children live a life on the streets in some way. For many, this means occasional school, petty trading, begging and prostitution, only returning to their homes in the evening.

Others have no home at all and must face the dangers of sleeping on the streets; they find themselves increasingly excluded from their own communities with no way back.

ABC Trust supports a variety of locally-run projects across Brazil, which give these children a second chance – helping them to transform their lives, and giving them hope for their futures.

By raising awareness and funding, ABC enables local organisations to take the lead in overcoming the problems of extreme poverty, abuse and lack of opportunity that drive young people onto the streets.

We aim to ensure that the most vulnerable children and young people find the support they need to get a decent education and develop the skills and knowledge required to give them the opportunities to live a full and rewarding life.

But, more than that, through theatre, film, dance and music, they also build the skills, confidence and self-belief they need to fulfil their potential.

our approach

Over the last ten years, we have focused our funding in three key areas: the provision of basic needs, supporting educational opportunities, and personal and community development through cultural activities and the arts.

We have built up strong partnerships with community-led organisations which provide vital training, education and support for young people, and fire their imaginations and creativity through dance, film, drama and music.

Whilst developing young people's self-awareness, pride and respect, they also work to promote positive change in the wider community, overcoming many of the problems which force children onto the street in the first place.

You can read more about our work and our project partners here.

Over 3000 children and their families are reached every day through projects made possible by ABC supporters' donations.

From counselling to medical care to film-editing workshops, our work provides an all-too-rare source of hope for some of Brazil’s poorest and most vulnerable children.