Kindernothilfe
Kindernothilfe e.V. Kindernothilfe e.V.

Brasil: Where disabled children have the opportunity to be children

Where disabled children have the opportunity to be children

Going to school, romping around, playing with other children or making music - that is childhood. But what is normal for some children is often impossible for disabled children. Living in the slums of the Brazilian city of Recife, situated in the northeast of Brazil, these children face many problems. As it is the case in many poor areas parents are often ashamed of their disabled children and hide them. Since 1988 parents of disabled girls and boys have been involved in the work of the "Centro de Reabilitação e Valorização da Criança" (CERVAC). Supported by Kindernothilfe, the centre provides help for disabled children.

12209_205x273_960x1280_0x0Picture: Schübelin 

The project environment
The metropolis Recife is situated in the northeast of Brazil with a population of two million people. In the more than 300 slums - so-called Favelas - poverty predominates.

There is no sewerage system and no connection to the waste disposal service so that the inhabitants are forced to throw their rubbish next to their shabby huts. These conditions make it is easy for parasites and diseases to spread fast. 50% of the inhabitants are unemployed and even those who have a job are hardly able to earn enough to survive.
Many children drop out of school. The quality of lessons in public schools is low and classes are too big.
Thus it is even more difficult for disabled girls and boys and there are no special schools for them. Insufficient information about disabilities leads to parents being ashamed of their children. Influenced by the crucial belief that "disabled children are God's punishment" they hide the children at home.

The Project (No 94621/AC/12)
In 1988 the "Centro de Reabilitação e Valorização da Criança" (CERVAC) was founded by dedicated parents in the slums of Morro da Conceição in the north-eastern outskirts of the City of Recife. With the help and committment of the parents and supported by the Kindernothilfe the CERVAC is able to offer help to 250 children today.
The centre comprises seven treatment rooms, one dining room, one kitchen, two classrooms, two therapeutic swimming pools, one room for pre-school lessons and two offices. About 30 mothers regularly support the full and part-time staff of the centre voluntarily in the rehabilitation treatment for their children.

The girls and boys have different mental and physical disabilities. Every child receives the support that is needed to enhance his or her further development in the centre. The children are cared for by trained staff members. Special therapies and individual support guarantee the best possible help for the children.

Thanks to this help, one third of the children are able to attend a regular school. To encourage better integration of disabled children CERVAC also provides special training for teachers. An important aspect of the work of CERVAC: The children are being supported in their environment. Families learn how to deal with the disabilities of their sons and daughters and as they always attend the therapeutic treatments of their children, they learn all the important therapeutic movements and techniques so that they are able to support their children at home, too. In workshops, staff members of CERVAC inform the inhabitants of the Falevas about health risks. They also address special health risks for pregnant women and, if needed, provide assistance until childbirth or for longer.

CERVAC also publicly advocates for the children's rights. For example, they organize a big event with about 2.000 visitors once a year. On this occasion, the impressive orchestra of the centre, which consists of disabled children, gives a concert. By now the band has become quite famous in Recife - not least of all for its defining name: "Força Especial" (special strength).

Video

If we receive more donations than we need to realize the project described above, we will invest your donation to support a similar project.
Annual Report 2006 Anual report 2007


Copyright © 2008 Kindernothilfe e.V.
All rights reserve. Disclaimers.