Brazil

With more than 185 million people, and over 60% of the population under the age of 30, Brazil is the 5th most populous country in the world and is growing fast. The country covers a vast area of land – 8.5 million square km – 35 times the size of the UK.

Brazil is the only Portuguese speaking nation in the Americas, and is predominantly Catholic, though this fact serves only to mask a rich and varied religious and spiritual heritage. Most famously celebrated for the Amazon rainforests, beautiful long coastlines, the carnival and a laid-back approach to life, Brazil is proud of its natural beauty, its culturally diverse roots and its distinct identity.

Emerging from life under a series of military-led governments, there have been concerted efforts over the last 20 years to bridge the enormous divide between the rich and poor – often cited as the worst in the world. Rural areas of the country are blighted with extreme poverty and poor economic development, resulting in a migration to the cities in a search for work and a better life.

Amazingly for a country with such rich natural resources, over 80% of Brazilians live in urban areas such as Sao Paulo, one of the world’s largest cities. This in turn has created the vast favela slums for which Brazil is also known, and the most visible image of the stark inequalities which exist in the country.

The major issues facing the country include:

• Urban and rural poverty – especially amongst Afro-Brazilians
• Poor access to public health and education services
• High levels of violence in the cities
• Extreme social inequalities
• High levels/incidence of child labour

More than 36 million people live on one dollar or less a day – barely enough to buy a loaf of bread. As a result many children have to work to contribute an income to their household – a fact of life which means there are approximately 7 million children working and living on the streets of its cities (UNICEF). This also means that 60% of children do not complete primary education.

For many this means a life of petty trading, begging or prostitution. For others a permanent life on the streets seems a better option than remaining at home. These children are prey to the threats of violence, abuse, drugs, crime and murder.

The contrasts in living standards and opportunities, especially in the cities, also means there are extreme social tensions. The levels of violence in some large urban centres have been compared to more traditional conflict zones. On the streets of Rio alone, hundreds of street children are killed every year.

ABC Trust works with locally-based partners to provide food and shelter for homeless and abandoned children, educational opportunities for children in particularly poor communities and, working through film, dance, music and theatre, we support the development of self-confidence and the opening of new horizons for young people who so badly need to see that the world can be a different place.