Brazil

With support from the Prudential Foundation, YouthBuild International is partnering with international and Brazilian NGOs, government and private sector partners to adapt and implement the YouthBuild model in Rio de Janeiro in 2011, laying the foundation for expansion to other locations in the future. The Center for Health Promotion (CEDAPS) and Galpão Aplauso launched the first two YouthBuild programs in Brazil in 2011. The pilot programs each enrolled young people from Comunidade 29 de Março and Comunidade da Formiga in Rio de Janeiro. CEDAPS has over 17 years of experience of working with the poorest communities in Rio and has developed strong relationships with local leaders and residents throughout Brazil. Founded in 2004, Galpão Aplauso is an innovative arts and cultural organization that offers youth development and technical training programs to young people from over 300 poor communities in Rio.

This pilot phase follows a consultation and assessment process that YouthBuild International conducted in 2010 with young people and community, government, NGO, and private-sector leaders. The programs will open pathways to productive livelihoods for the country’s most marginalized, out-of-school, unemployed, and gang-vulnerable young people. These young people will also build community assets in some of Rio de Janeiro’s poorest communities (favelas).

One objective of the effort is to prepare and fully position young people to take jobs in the burgeoning construction industry, as Rio prepares itself as one of 12 host cities of the 2014 World Cup, and as the host of the 2016 Olympics.