By Thais Corral | program leader
In 2016 we celebrate our tenth anniversary. Children at Community Julio Otoni love their Center. For most of them is it a sort of refuge, a safe space where they can play, they are loved and respected. Child abuse in Favelas is a very common problem, a quick google search can show the many dimensions in which it occurs. " At Julio Otoni Center we feel safe. We can play. We feel also free to express ourselves without fear of being bitten or abused", says Mateus, a 9 year child that has been attending Julio Otoni Center since he was 6.
One of the innovations and good practices of the initiative carried at the Julio Otoni Center is that it is maintained by a combination of volunteers from outside the Favela and women that live in the Favela. They care for the future of children that in many cases would be left alone at home if the Center did not exist to host them. Eliana, for example, has served at Julio Otoni Center for the last 9 years. One of her grand children attends the Center activities and she feels proud of being able to contribute to the wellbeing of so many children at the Favela: "I feel that our contribution apparently small make a big different in the lives of the children and their families. Here they eat well, they play and they are exposed to good education tools".
Children at Julio Otoni have computer classes, football, English and after school support for the disciplines in which they do not do well. They have also art classes which have helped them to participate in international projects such as constellationart, which gathers art projects from all over the world. It is an on going thread of positive contributions and transformations that the maintenance of a simple house allows.! Gratitude for all that have contributed for the initiative to continue over the last ten years. May it continue. May we continue to benefit the children and families of Julio Otoni Community!
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