Census of children in care in Rio de Janeiro released
The 3rd census of children in shelters in the state of Rio de Janeiro was released at the end of September. The census analysed the statistics of children in shelters as of 30th July 2009.
The total number of children totalled 3358 with 238 organisations/programmes or shelters housing the children.88.15% of the children live in shelters, 5.57% live with a foster family, 2.98 live within a resident school programme, 2.74% in a Monday-Friday shelter and .57% in chemical dependency rehabilitation centres. 7.8% of these children are eligible for adoption.
14.95% of the children are 0-3 years old, 12.27% are 4-6years old, 18.97% are 7-9 years old, 22.84% are 10-12 years old, 20.25% are 13-15 years old and 10.72% are 16-18 years old. Read the rest of this article
This information is taken from Módulo Criança e Adolescente part of the Ministério Público do Estado do Rio de Janeiro.
RFA Goldrover helps Reaching Lives creche
The renovation works on the Reaching Lives creche in São Gonçalo had a great boost with the contribution of the British Merchant Navy ship, RFA Goldrover. A team of volunteers worked for four days on the construction site helping lay the concrete and the roof for the new dining room.
Homeless Child hope to have the rest of the first floor completed by the end of next year with a new kitchen, nursery for babies up to one years of age and ‘maternal’ for 1-2 years old. The creche will have the capacity to care for up to 150 children in the local area of São Gonçalo.
New adoption law limits time children stay in care
President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the 3rd of August 2009, sanctioned a new Adoption Law. With the new rules, children and teenagers cannot be in care or in shelters for longer than two years, only if authorised expressly by the Courts. Shelters need to be within proximity of the child’s family.
Now, everyone over the age of 18, even if they are single, are eligible to adopt a child or teenager. The only restriction is that the person adopting is at least sixteen years older than the child.
Couples that want to adopt a child need to be legally married or maintain a stable civil union. Adoption for same sex couples is not permitted. To read the rest of this article click here
This information was taken from the law Nº 12.010 sanctioned by the President of the Republic as registered in the Diário Oficial da União.
New volunteer house built for Criança do Brasil
A new volunteer house has been built in Morro do Paraiso in Lote XV in Duque da Caxias to support the volunteer program of Criança do Brasil. The work of the volunteers includes reinforcement classes after school, language classes, supporting the teachers in the creche projects as well as bringing various children in the community to and from school.
The volunteers are an integral part of the work done by Criança do Brasil and are invaluable in terms of the work they are doing in the local community. The volunteers now live in the middle of the community of Morro do Paraiso, always on hand to help out with a wide variety of needs of the project.
Winter break means all hands on deck for Reaching Lives
Over the winter holidays the renovation works on the Reaching Lives creche in São Gonçalo has taken off at lightning speed. The building that existed has essentially been rebuilt with neccessary changes made to improve the infrastructure such as levelling of the floor and installation of brand new windows and doors.
Work has began on the new part of the building which will double the size of the creche with a new dining room, kitchen, nursery for babies up to one years of age and ‘maternal’ for 1-2 years old. The onslaught of swine flu has meant that the government have asked for creches in Rio de Janeiro to extend their holidays so as to prevent the passing of the illness.
In 2008 we constructed a cistern to provide the project with a reliable water source and lay the foundations to extend the building.
Ministry of Education to use Creche Comunitária as pilot project
After three years hard work, evaluating, designing and legalising the plans for the new building for the Creche Comunitária in Nova Holanda in Complexo da Maré, the Minister of Education has decided to fund the construction of the three storey building.
The creche will be used a pilot project to show how creches for toddlers are to be designed in impoverished areas throughout Rio de Janeiro. Infant education is crucial to set children on the right path in life and Creche Comunitária has proven itself to be the best example of this in an area which suffers from extreme violence and drug wars.
The new building for the creche will be the first in the whole of Complexo da Maré to be legally built.
Sweet sounds from the children of Lote XV
Criança do Brasil has started an orchestra for the children of Lote XV. Twenty boys and girls from aged 9 - 13 years old are learning the flute and ten other children are learning various other instruments. This is another initiative of Criança do Brasil to unite the children of the area in activities where they can learn and enjoy themselves while keeping them busy and away from the dangers of the street.
Criança do Brasil also runs english classes for children as well as reinforcement classes for children with difficulty in school.
Wanting the best for the children of Maré
The Creche Comunitária in Nova Holanda, Complexo da Maré is undertaking a project to get the best knowledge and advice as to how to care for and to help the children of the creche.
The project ‘Infância Integral’ is supported by a nucleus of professionals from various disciplines, including nutrition, psychology, audiology, social assistance and education, that are in continuous contact with the management team on methodology of work. The activities of the project use aspects of all these disciplines to meet the demands of the children, their families, the staff and the community.
Homeless Child believes that no child should live in poverty. Every day, children die on the streets in Rio de Janeiro from crack addiction, violence and abuse. Our charity makes a real difference in the lives of Rio's street children. 
