Novo Mundo (New World)
Most Brasilian NGOs believe that professionalism is essential to work with street children; some do not even allow volunteers to work in their programs. For this reason, Novo Mundo is unusual, because it is a program based almost entirely on volunteers. This structure has caused some problems with finances, but it has also allowed Novo Mundo to have an impact beyond its small budget.
Novo Mundo was founded by Suely Brito, a businesswoman who had worked as a volunteer in state shelters and with the Casa de Passagem. She felt alienated by the repressive policies of the state programs and wanted to work to prevent homelessness, so Novo Mundo works in the favelas, always based on ideas of liberty and justice.
Volunteering works well with the arts, because many artists and musicians are thrilled to work in the favelas. Novo Mundo trains artists about poverty and justice, then provides them a space to give workshops to poor children -- dance, drawing, theater, or anything that the volunteer wants to teach. At its largest, the program served some 500 children.
Unfortunately, financial problems and the violence endemic to Recife’s favelas (Recife has more murders per capita than any other Brasilian city) forced Novo Mundo to reduce its programs. Today it works with 150 children in the poor inner city neighborhood of Santo Amaro.
Over 7 years, Novo Mundo has provided space for over 400 volunteers, making it one of the largest volunteer programs in Latin America.
Novo Mundo
Rua Dom Bosco, 1000, Sala 1603
Boa Vista, Recife, Pernambuco, CEP: 50070-070
Contacto: Suely Brito, novomundo.ong@bol.com.br
www.novomundo.org.br
