Lar Marista João Batista Berne

Lar Marista works to prevent youth homelessness with an school-week program for young children. Children from violent or at-risk families live at the Lar during the week, then return to their own families for the weekend. Thirty children can participate at any one time; staff help them with schoolwork, but also coordinate play, dance, capoeira, and computer workshops. Doctors and dentists volunteer to care for the children’s health.

Though the program was begun by a Marist brother and continues to be affiliated with the Marists, that tie is now loose at best. Children in the program come from all religions, and both protestant and catholic chaplains attend to their spiritual needs. Most funding now comes from the Brazilian Educational Union, not from the Marists.

Lar Marista believes that work with families is very important; these children return to their parents every weekend, and when they are too old for the program, they will live with their families again. Unfortunately, the program does not have the resources or staff to do effective outreach with parents.

Children come to the Lar at the recommendation of the Conselho Tutelar or the justice system. At the beginning, this causes some problems of resistance from families and children, but the staff are generally able to overcome them. It is difficult to judge the success of the program because of the lack of resources for aftercare, but staff pay close attention to the process of leaving the program, and children regularly come back to thank staff.

Volunteers are very important to the program; Lar Marista has established a strong relationship with several churches in Holland, and now there is almost always a young Dutch volunteer helping with the kids.

Rua São Felicíssimo 192
Bairro Betania
30580-250 Belo Horizonte, MG

tel-fax: 031 3383 2023

Contact: Angela Leite, larmarista@ubee-marista.com.br

http//www.portalmarista.com.br