PROCRIU
Pina is one of the poorest favelas in Brasil; many of its inhabitants have build their homes on stilts over mangrove swamps, with trash and sewage flowing freely under the houses. There is no running water or sewage. For the last forty years, PROCRIU has served the boys and girls of this miserable neighborhood.
PROCRIU works directly with children and adolescents, but this effort requires outreach to the entire community. The program has begun to recreate the neighborhood association as a representative of community interests -- the association fell apart several years ago because of political and personal conflicts. PROCRIU has located new leaders and trained them in conflict resolution and motivation. The program has also organized the community to improve the quality of education and to demand services from the city government. PROCRIU also organizes citizens to improve the conditions of their neighborhood: cleaning their streets, building parks, and a neighborhood watch.
The most successful of PROCRIU’s projects use the arts and culture. Educators teach traditional dances and music, using this culture as a way to improve self esteem. It is clear to the observer that the children love dance. At other times, educators teach football. Unfortunately, the physical plant is deteriorating and PROCRIU has not had the money to repair the buildings.
PROCRIU is also very proud of its work with literacy and tutoring. The public schools in the neighborhood are quite poor, so PROCRIU provides much of the education that is the responsibility of the schools. Education also includes an excellent computer room.
PROCRIU also wants to make people feel that they belong to the community. Each Sunday, the program sponsors a community dinner with music. PROCRIU also runs a used clothing store, where local people can buy inexpensive clothes and local women learn how to manage a small business. Each week, all of the children and their parents come to a meeting, where they can talk about their problems and seek common solutions.
The Catholic Church sponsors PROCRIU and pays the nuns that administer the program -- the nuns are deeply committed to progressive politics and have been adopted by the community. Financial problems make human resources difficult, but a contract with the city has brought in several educators and an English foundation sends two volunteers annually.
PROCRIU: Projecto Criança Urgente
Rua Arthur Lício, 221
Pina, Recife - Pernambuco CEP 51011-150
Brasil
55 81 33250887
Contacto: Conceição Costa <maria.conceicao.cost@terra.com.br>
