Univida

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UNiViDA bringing life, hope and opportunity to children

Univida was set up to offer children in Brazils favelas (slums) the opportunity to study, be inspired to dream and the tools to help them realise their potential.

UNIVIDA will benefit children and young people living in favelas by providing quality education, training and life skills in a safe learning environment. The charity will also care for parents and families, providing opportunities for skills training, recreation and the improvement of quality of life.

The north-east coast of Brazil is a beautiful sun-drenched region and has Brazil’s 4th largest city of Fortaleza, with 2.5 million people and 550 favelas Fortaleza is a city of contrasts, granite fronted apartments, luxury hotels and restaurants line the sea front but a quick walk along the promenade will soon reveal that this wealth does not extend very far.

Towards the outskirts of the city are the slums, these communities are improvised and lacking in basic services which make life for their residents difficult and dangerous. Skin diseases, infections, tiredness, mal-nutrition and depression are just of few of the consequences of the physical squalor of life in a slum community. To make matters worse, dwellers must also contend with violence, unemployment, alcoholism and drug related gang warfare. Add to these conditions, un-reliable schools, clinics and transport. These are the conditions the children of Fortaleza’s slums are growing up.

You might think that with all of this against them, happiness and enthusiasm would be in short supply. It is true that for many teenagers and adults, exhaustion and depression has a firm grip. However, in the lives of children who have known nothing else, there is optimism and energy for another day.

UNIVIDA?s challenge is to harness and develop this youthful joy into real hope and character that will persevere and persist as the children grow and face the huge challenges ahead of them in the slums.