Mission Partner: Happy Child
The second wave of Covid 19 is running rampant in Brazil. 9 million confirmed covid cases and to date 221,547 deaths. This is the story of suffering that is emerging out of Brazil. Happy Child is responding now to engage with the current crisis.
Changes in Recife, North East Brazil. Happy Child International is transitioning its work to a more community based preventative model, reaching vulnerable children and young people in the fragile communities where they reside. The impact of Covid-19 in Brazil instigated a significant change in direction for us. We can have a greater impact in providing education and opportunities, protection from violence and caring for families by implementing this strategic change. Our resources will be directed to sustainable Christian partners in Recife who will benefit from our support. In the last 9 months we have opted to fund two new Christian partners working in fragile communities in Recife, North East Brazil. Instituto Solidare and Ammar Transforma.
Happy Child’s achievements in 2020/21
Over the last 9 months Happy Child International has helped with:
refurbishment of a community hub in the Joana Bezerra district, a very deprived low income area of Recife with 24,000 inhabitants. The average income is as little as £320 a month. The hub will provide a more welcoming space for children and young people from these families. Throughout this last year, the project has delivered outside school activities, sport, weekend art and music workshops, bible study and discipleship to 53 children and young people. Almost 87% of children around the world have missed out on their schooling since the start of the pandemic. The public schools in Brazil have been closed for a whole year.
supply of 70 basic food baskets to the above families.
funding of a Mentoring & Skills training programme for 40 of the vulnerable young from low income families in Coqueiral district. 27.1% of those who are unemployed are between the ages of 16 to 18 years old.
supply of 190 basic food baskets to another community in the Sapu Nu district that has a population of 6,000. Many of the families, children and young people are not receiving the support and resources they need.