Instituto Promundo
Brasilian research has shown that the most effective strategy against youth homelessness is to prevent it by developing grassroots civil society in poor and marginal communities (Shine a light research suggests the same is true in other countries). Instituto Promundo is a collaborative effort between CESPI and an American foundation to strengthen civil society in the poorest favelas of Rio de Janeiro.
Promundo tries to change our perspective about the favelas: they are not about risk and danger, but about opportunity. The program finds and fortifies the community’s strengths so that local people can better serve children and youth. In even the poorest favela, there are resources: informal preschools, adults whom children ask for advice, small shops, churches, sometimes even little NGOs. Unfortunately, these services are not integrated and children don’t know how to use them.
In the favela of Bangú, where Promundo has begun work, 25% of youth are involved in drug trafficking, 30% of children live with divorced parents, and almost 1% of youth are murdered each year (!). Even so, there is a tremendous creativity in the neighborhood, a strong culture, and large amounts of money (from drugs, but it is also a resource). For instance, a study of homework habits showed that 40% of children used “explicadoras,” informal tutors who help with math or reading for a small fee. There are mothers’ clubs to share childcare responsibilities. Friends make amazing sacrifices to help each other, both emotionally and economically. Almost everyone that lives in Bangú insists that this informal network is infinitely more important than the government or than any NGO.
Promundo did this research by hiring young people in the community. Now, these researchers can teach their peers about what services exist, and how to take advantage of them. They have mapped civil society at its grassroots, and now Promundo can train community leaders and teach them how to work together.
Instituto Promundo
Rua México 31 Bloco D Sala 1502
Centro, Rio de Janeiro, 20031 060
Brasil
21 2544 3114 o 2544 3115
fax 21 2220 3511
www.promundo.org.br
Contacto: Gary Barker, g.barker@promundo.org.br
