Prevent Youth Involvement in Drug Trafficking

Rain poured throughout the city, creating ankle deep streams in the hilly streets and pathways of Rio’s favelas. School has just been dismissed for the summer, and the city is buzzing with pre-holiday shopping, traffic, and yes, stress. It would seem dark, wet, and dismal, but there is light shining from the Julio Otoni Community Center as 40 children gather for their end of the year Holiday Party. Beyond the food and Christmas gifts that the center is providing, the children are also very excited to perform five songs they have been practicing for months in their after school program.

Thanks to two dedicated volunteers and musicians, Vania Borges from Brazil and Natalia Mercado from Argentina, the children at the Julio Otoni Community Center have had voice and percussion classes once a week to look forward to in addition to their homework help, snacks, and art activities before and after school.

The Community Center is a vital space to the children in this community. There are no nearby parks or spaces for them to play. The Community Center provides a safe, welcoming, and enriching environment for these at risk youth.

Your contributions will keep this vibrant space alive! Whether a one-time donation, or an on-going sponsorship of a child, your donation will make an impact on these youth’s lives. From Rio de Janeiro, we thank you!