Reaching Lives is having its finishing touches
The Reaching Lives project in São Gonçalo is nearing completion after some major renovations. We have finally completed the structure of the new building, and need to complete the installations on the land to get the creche open for the children.
The focus has always been on providing a safe building with more capacity for children to replace the dangerously structured creche that existed before. The creche is currently taking place in the local church with some new volunteers adding to the excitement of the new year. We hope to have the children in their new much improved surroundings by the start of April.
Flooding affects Criança do Brasil
Since October the summer floods have badly affected our partner project Criança do Brasil in Vila Alzira in Duque da Caxias. The community has been developed for years on marshland and so when the heavy rains arrive, they inevitably destroy the community. The government are in the process of dredging the nearby river and are now at the stage where they need to work in the area of Vila Alzira.
The residents of the community, the students of the creche, members of the church and youths involved in our programs have all been advised that they will need to leave the community in the near future. Everyone will receive financial compensation for the displacement. We are really pleased that the government has taken the initiative to move the community that has lost so much, so many times over this summer period of heavy rains.
Our efforts are now focused on moving the creche in Morro do Paraiso to a new safer building and providing the children with the right environment to start their education. The new building will be finished by March 2010.
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