Building a future for 200 youths in Sao Paulo

This month of October was very special at Arca because for weeks, everyone was busy preparing the celebration of the 20th anniversary of our NGO! Indeed, when we look back at the rearview mirror, we can be very proud of how far we have come. The young children who were welcomed in the early 2000s in the wooden shack that served as a kindergarden have become adults who in turn walk their young siblings or children to the modern building of Arca. Joelma, who was a very young 18-year-old educator from the favela has grown into an accomplished and recognised manager of the Arca do Saber center. Sirley has become an experienced seamstress who keeps her good humor to adapt to the successive generations of French volunteers. Arca do fazer workshop is moving with the time and is now producing ecobags and reusable food wraps. For 5 years now, Arca do Crescer vocational training center has been supporting teenagers and young adults of the community in the construction of their professional project. With the micro-enterprise incubator set up this year, new dreams are being hatched. 

Over the years, a strong relationship of confidence has emerged between the community of Vila Prudente and Arca allowing the NGO to develop an in-depth work. 

Arca's 20th aniversary was the occasion, for our team, after 2 sad years of the Pandemic to welcome families of Arca's children, students of Arca do Crescer, volunteers and partners and all together to celebrate what has been achieved. 

Demonstration of dance, music, "roda de capoiera", exhibition and drawing competition, cake and delicious dishes prepared by the cooks of Arca, everything came together to make it an unforgettable day!

All these success stories are possible thanks to the hard work of the teams of employees and volunteers, but above all, thanks to the generosity of partners and donors. And it's with your help that we will continue to write Arca's story!

Because we are deeply convinced that an holistic approach of the well-being of the children is necessary to ensure success in education, during the last three months, our NGO has organised various health prevention sessions. The children and the young adults of Arca have benefitted from the coming of dentists and of ophtalmologists, diagnoses have been made and glasses have been provided.Teenage girls of Arca do Saber were able to ask all their questions about puberty and body transformations to a health professional. Another workshop was organised for all the teenagers about suicide prevention. Arca's educators and psychologist are also working in small groups on non-violent communication, respect and anti-bullying. 

To continue and expand our programs, help us spread Arca's campaign for Donor Day! 

https://goto.gg/57602

We have great ambitions and many projects for the years to come and together, we will continue ensuring a better future for the children of Vila Prudente.

Links:

• Presentation of the project "sports for everyone"

 We believe that education is the way, and to achieve our mission we always seek to improve our performance, offering the necessary conditions for our children and teenagers to develop. 

ARCA's work is based on the principle of integral development of its beneficiaries, including the development of socio-emotional skills, physical and mental health care, offering guided activities and a balanced diet. For 2022, it includes the introduction of organic products, the result of a partnership with the Kairós Institute and Urban Farm Ipiranga. An important step to improve health and contribute to the environmental preservation. After a wonderful visit of Ipiranga urban farm by ARCA's staff, fresh organic products are now delivered each week to ARCA's kitchen and the children have been introduced to the principles and good usage of turning wastes into compost. 

We are very happy to offer 260 meals a day at Arca do Saber with organic products, as well as snacks for the students of the Arca do Crescer courses. 

During the first half of 2022, ARCA resumed full operations but also began implementing projects to address the aftermath of the COVID 19 crisis.

Special emphasis has been placed on reading and math. Thanks to your support, we were able to purchase tablets and computers. All ARCA children now have access to digital literacy and online educational games - which is very motivating for them. 

In addition, Arca do Saber ‘s educators are working on a new pedagogical plan. The staff is visiting other CCAs (Center for Children and Adolescents, just like Arca do Saber) in the Sao Paulo region to share experiences and knowledge. Last month, our team visited CCA São Patrício and CCA Paulo Freire. The managers of the spaces welcomed us very well and we were able to visit the facilities and observe a little bit of the range of activities developed. When we returned to Arca, we also had a round of conversation to share what each of us learned from these visits and how we can improve our work even more. It was a great experience!

 About Arca do Crescer, we now have a partnership with the SENAC Vila Prudente (national organism for commercial apprenticeship), which will allow us to offer our students the course "sales and marketing assistant" starting from the second half of 2022 with a nation-wide recognized diploma.

Moreover, at the end of June, we celebrated the end of Arca do Crescer’s semester with the graduation of our three long term courses: baking, logistics and sales. 

To feed all these projects, we need you to continue to support and promote the work of ARCA. Share our link to your friends and families:https://www.globalgiving.org/projects/educational-center-favela-vilaprudente-brazil

Links:

• ARCA 2021 Activities report