The association
This association focuses on generating a new mentality and social transformation in the communities of Mesquita, in Rio de Janeiro. The favelas (slums) in this area have been forgotten by the authorities. Families are living in extreme poverty, children are being abandoned and, as they enter their teenage years, they are drawn to drug trafficking.
Vida Plena de Mesquita is paving the way towards a sustainable future for the upcoming generations. The people in Mesquita can achieve bright futures, and the association`s leaders and volunteers play a hand in making that future possible. The many ways they are working to accomplish this vision is through education, sports, opportunities, and relationships.
The projects
The Association has several projects to serve the community:
- From Monday to Friday: LEVICA Project in partnership with Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro. The association provides psychological care for children and teenagers who are victims of violence and abuse, as well as for their families and/or caregivers. The place where the association is located is surrounded by an area of extreme social vulnerability and violence.
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoon: ‘Semear’ Project. The association offers school tutoring and learning support for children from the communities. These children go to the public school in the morning and to the project in the afternoon.
- Saturday morning: Recriando Project. The association provides Jiu-Jitsu, soccer, and ballet classes, besides other fun activities for around 120 children and teenagers.
Project leaders
Syl Farney and Patricia da Silva
Opportunities
Our goal is to send valuable resources and teams to support the community and the association leadership, so they can be encouraged in what they are doing and reach their maximum potential. There are endless opportunities to serve and make a real impact. Such possibilities include:
- Teach local people valuable skills to become self-sustaining
- Construction projects in the association facilities
- Construction projects in the favelas (slums)
- Teach the youth a new career through technology
- Leverage entrepreneurship opportunities
- Teach English to teenagers
- Teach in Jiu-Jitsu, soccer, and ballet classes
- Partnering with their Psychology department to bring training
- And much more.
The potential for these projects is endless. Future generations will be impacted by the work that takes place at your team`s experience and countless lives will be touched by your influence.
History
The Association “Vida Plena de Mesquita’ was created in 2012. They started their activities with a class that prepared low-income youths from the community to enter a university. In 2013, the project acquired a property in the ‘Rocha Sobrinho’ neighborhood, where they were able to implement new projects to reach the local people with social transformation.
