Julio Otoni is a small low income community (favela) in Rio de Janeiro. As in other poor areas of Rio de Janeiro, the area is heavily affected by the presence of criminal gangs, drugs and guns. Due in part to the lack of occupational alternatives in the community, it is not at all unusual for children as young as twelve and thirteen to become involved with the gang culture.
REDEH is an NGO based in Rio de Janeiro, developing programs that promote human rights and citizenship. It has been active in creating alternatives within the Julio Otoni community, starting with the purchase of a community centre in May 2004 and the renovation of the centre in July 2006. With the renovation of the community centre came an out-of-school activity programme for children between the ages of 7 and 17. The objective of the programme is to offer local young people alternative activities after school and especially in the school holidays (a time when they would otherwise spend all their free time on the streets) such as Educational Support, English, Capoeira, Computing and Environmental Education.
Since its set up, the project has gone from strength to strength. It now has 70 regular attendees, and a computer room. The project has made a difference that is instantly visible in many of the children that use the facilities. The project relies on donations to exist: we have been involved with the project from the outset, and currently provide 25% of the running costs of this project. We look forward to being able to support other projects as the business grows.
Real Progress
Jinga has been involved in the Julio-Otoni Project from the outset, and we are really pleased with the progress the project has made. After starting with 40 children the project has nearly doubled in size and now has 70 children involved. Recent milestones include:
Children from the Julio–Otoni project invited by The Botafogo Fire Brigade to take part in their Botinho Project this meant that the children from the project received classes and training in swimming, environmental education and first-aid. Best of all they got to spend time with and learned to trust these figures of authority.
The renovated community centre where the project is based has become a focal point of the community which the children of the community have come to rely on as a safe haven for them.
The project now provides regular employment for two women in the community who manage the community centre.
The women working in the Creche have received training from a Pedagogist from one of the top schools in Rio de Janeiro
Here is a video of some of the children of the Julio-Otoni project telling us the one key rule they feel is important in the project (in Portuguese but examples of the rules are: Don’t hit others, Don’t swear, Don’t be late and ask forgiveness when you’ve done wrong.)
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