Prevent Youth Involvement in Drug Trafficking

July was an exciting month for the community center due to the coming of the Olympics to Rio. Sports fever has hit!

Specifically, the children are participating in the British Council's Premeir Skills program, which seeks to empower young people between the ages of 10-18 to improve their communities through soccer and citizenship classes. Over 200 boys and girls participate in the program and are trained to be leaders in the community. What is very special about the program in Rio is that both police officers and local favela youth play on teams together as an effort to reduce tension and conflict between the groups. Both the officers and the youth begin to see one another as friends rather than enemies. Beyond soccer, the young people involved in the program also work to improve trash and recycling systems and revitalize degraded areas in the community. They learn how to be more engaged citizens - both through sports and through the citizenship classes.

On July 30, the community celebrated the wonderful acheivement of 62 days with no gang violence. The community came together to acknowledge the peace and the impact of the program on the young people. It has provided real alternatives to drugs and gangs and the community can see it. Moreover, one of the young men from the area was chosen to run with the Olympic torch due to his athletic accomplishments in sports. The entire community was extremely proud and honored him with a ceremony, as shown in the attached photos.