Inspiring a better world for young Brazilians

Despite living in the world’s ninth largest economy, life is incredibly tough for the many young Brazilians who are unable to gain the education that would help them escape poverty and reach their full potential. However, a global charity programme from BT and UNICEF is offering a little inspiration by helping them achieve their life goals.

Thayne Cirquera da Silva, 15 years old, lives with her family in Brazil’s second largest shanty town - Heliopolis in Sao Paulo.

She is a bright and dedicated student. However, Thayne finds it incredibly difficult to stay focused on her studies and on her future.

“Choosing a path is not easy,” she explains. “If you take drugs, you are seen as cool. You have power at school and people are afraid of you. A close friend of mine is a leader of a boca [a place where drug dealers and users meet]. She is always inviting me to meet outside school and smoke. Many think it’s cool and it will help you to be happier. This is what they want to put in your mind.”

Thayne says that many of her friends spend most of their days just hanging around in the square in front of her school taking drugs: “Most of the people I know do nothing all day. There is nothing to do here. I’m sure if we could have more places to play sports or do other activities, then young people will stop taking so many drugs. You can now see kids as young as 12 smoking.”

Vicious circle

Thayne’s story is echoed across Brazil, where young people attend school for just four hours each day. As a result, many end up being at home on their own or out on the streets for much of the day. Worse, many young people are compelled to leave school entirely to work to support their family due to poverty, resulting in an exceptionally high drop-out rate.

The vicious circle of poverty destroying the opportunity for education, leading to continued poverty, results in frustration, isolation and despair, with many turning to violence, crime and – like many of Thayne’s fellow pupils - drugs.

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