Brazil: New Life Perspectives also for Adults

Those who enjoy baking or cooking and would like to become self-employed in the field of gastronomy, those who need further training in the area of IT or those who are looking for practical training as a carpenter or electrician will find what they are looking for at the social center in Diadema, Brazil. The facility is not only a popular place for children and young people to go, but also offers a wide range of vocational training opportunities for adults in need. This gives them new hope and a new perspective on life.

Life in Diadema is not easy. Unemployment is very high, while school education is very low. This is one reason why so few people find a job or have to keep their heads above water with simple unskilled labor. But then the income is nowhere near enough to feed a whole family. Where money is not enough to survive, crime, drug trafficking and prostitution increase. Diadema, a satellite city of the huge metropolis of São Paulo with more than 400,000 inhabitants, was one of the most dangerous cities in Brazil for many years. The situation has improved. But 70 percent of the city area still consists of slums, the so-called favelas.

As is often the case, the cycle of poverty is difficult to break. If parents do not have enough money to send their children to school or to buy the necessary school materials, the children grow up on the streets. They receive no education, come into contact with crime and drugs, and later find no work for precisely this reason. The consequences are a lack of hope and prospects, alcoholism and drug abuse. These lead to even more violence, crime and poverty.

The beginning of the social center

In 2000, the Baptist congregation in Diadema, together with the German Baptist congregation in São Paulo, had the vision of lighting a light of hope in the midst of this darkness. At that time, they opened the rooms of their church to 20 children. It was to be a safe place for children at risk, where they could develop physically, emotionally and spiritually. The social center became a new home for many children, where they could experience appreciation, love and security. At the same time, they were supported at school or motivated to attend classes again, and they received healthy food. The girls and boys learned the basics of hygiene, self-care and how to build healthy interpersonal relationships. All of this was linked to prayer and stories from the Bible, and above all with the good news that they are God's precious and beloved children.

Today, more than 350 children and young people regularly come to the social center. It has classrooms, workshops, a garden with a sports field, a large kitchen and a large auditorium. Despite all their commitment to the children, the staff of the social center have realized that a fundamental problem remains: the lack of hope and prospects when they return home and to their families. If they really want to help the children in a sustainable way, they also have to help their families to find new hope for their lives. Simone Almeida, the director of the social center, says: "My vision is that we can expand our service to other needy people in this district and also serve senior citizens or the deaf and pass on the gospel."

Help for adults too

This marked the beginning of a whole new area of work with many challenges. In cooperation with the city, local businesses and other organizations, those in charge set up a vocational training program for people with no means of support. To do this, they made the center's rooms available. A standard vocational training program in Brazil is very expensive and requires a secondary school diploma. People from the favelas cannot provide any of these things, which is why they have little chance of finding a good job. The training center at the social center now offers them the opportunity to receive free training – regardless of their educational background.

Last year, almost 900 people took part in the program. There are courses in the fields of gastronomy, carpentry, electrical engineering and tailoring. In addition, they can take a course on how to set up a small business and thus open their own business. The range of courses is extensive and varies from year to year, depending on which teachers are available from the cooperation partners. "The most popular courses are IT courses, courses for administrative assistants, and cooking, pastry and bakery courses," says Simone.

After completing the training, the participants receive a certificate from an officially recognized vocational training institute in Brazil, which greatly improves their chances on the labor market. Some of them become self-employed and produce and sell what they have learned in the courses. Others try to find better paid jobs. Often it is the first step out of long-term unemployment. This foundation gives graduates a new and better perspective on life and enables them to provide for their families. This is how real transformation happens in Diadema.

Simone knows that the foundation of this work and the power for transformation comes from her faith and the teaching of biblical values. The combination of faith, love and hope has the power to change the whole city. She is convinced: "Jesus' light drives out the darkness. The more Christ-like a person is, the greater will become social justice, peace, the love between people and the joy of life."

 

From an interview with Simone Almeida

This article first appeared in the EBMI-MAGAZINE 2/2024