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Section Two
What is the project Grupo Ruas e Pracas about and how does it help improve the lives of street children and their families?
This project works with young people, and in some instances, their families. It aims to improve their living conditions and quality of life by taking them away from the dangers of street living and problems associated with it - like extreme hunger, lack of education and basic healthcare, and inadequate housing.
The ‘street community’ in Recife is riddled with crime and violence, with many teenagers involved with drugs and drinking. A lot of the street-children involved with this project work on the streets cleaning windscreens, selling lollipops or sometimes helping their parents in rich people’s houses.
Some of the street-children go home to sleep, but many have weak family ties, or have completely run away from their homes due to very unhappy relationships and problems within the family unit. Those that do sleep on the streets get their money through begging, robbing and drugs. Almost all those living on the streets are drug users – sniffing shoemaker glue is very common.
Grupo Ruas e Pracas works with street-children and their families in a number of ways:
- Running activities and creative workshops in the heart of the ‘street’ community.
- Helping families resolve problems (e.g. reuniting children who have run away, helping families to access benefits and services).
- A rural centre away from the lifestyle and temptations associated with living on the streets.
Activities and creative workshops in the community
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The activities and creative workshops are carefully put together to appeal to the youngsters who live on the streets. They include activities like dance, drama, percussion, sport and capoeira (Brazilian martial art). The workshops use art and culture to help street-children build a sense of identity and self-worth. Many of the street-children come along out of curiosity and soon start to form trusting relationships with the staff running the workshops.
The development of trust is a key aspect, as the youngsters will start to open up and discuss their frustrations and problems. The staff working with them can then help and encourage the youngsters to take the first steps to change their lives, helping them to realise that living on the streets has no future and no happy ending.
Importantly, the activities and workshops change the daily routine of street-children – less time on the streets means less time to be involved with illegal activities, including the temptations of drugs and alcohol.
Helping the family unit
People affected by poverty want to improve their lives. The staff involved with Grupo Ruas e Pracas are specially trained to build trust with individuals and families, and help resolve problems. They work with families in poor communities to help them access benefits and services, as well as re-uniting street-children with their families. The project also encourages families to allow youngsters to stay on at school, to better their education, and to attend courses and sports activities.
The project also helps to put pressure on local government to make more services available to the poor and youth friendly, as well as encouraging young people and families to speak out about what they want – Grupo Ruas e Pracas helps give a voice to people living in poverty in Recife.
The rural centre
Grupo Ruas e Pracas includes a rural centre away from the streets and the squares of Recife. The centre includes activities like those offered in the heart of Recife (art, sport, percussion etc), but also includes farming. At the rural centre, street-children can stay between two and five days, which really helps them change their routine of living on the streets.
2. Using the project Grupo Ruas e Pracas section:
Explain, giving examples, ways in which the local project helps street children.
A development worker at a stand in a local shopping centre – part of an organizational drive to generate funds by selling t-shirts, badges, books and videos and raise awareness.
Educators playing the berimbau instrument to accompany capoeira
a painting by one of the teenagers staying at the farm temporarily to escape drugs and violence on the street.
Women from the local community at a sewing class preparing for a belly dancing session that will be used as an ice-breaker before discussing issues such as respect for your body, self esteem etc.
