Teen Ministry
Belém gave birth for the National Movement of Street Boys and Girls, largely through the efforts of the Teen Ministry, the program within the Catholic Church that is concerned with poor and excluded youth. Today, the Ministry is not as strong as it was in the 1980s, when Father Bruno Secchi was one of the most important voices in the national debate on children, but it still provides important services for street children and gang members.
The Ministry’s work focuses on preventing youth homelessness through grassroots groups in Belém’s favelas. Some of the group members live on the street, while others are only a step away. The youth prepare for a different life through vocational training -- the program runs a bakery, a silk screen workshop, and an arts and crafts atelier. All groups also get after school tutoring.
Group members invite their friends to join, making outreach easy. Most are thoughtful teenagers, concerned about politics and wanting to help others, so they go to churches, schools, and community groups to teach about youth homelessness, prostitution, and child labor. The Ministry serves about 1200 children and youth.
Pastoral do Menor, Pará
Avenida Governador José Malheur 915
Belém, PA 66055 260
Brasil
91 223 1565
fax 223 1365
Contacto: Creusa dos Santos e Silva, adiniz@amazon.com.br
