The Olinda Children's Association

From the data obtained by interviewing the families at the school and in their home for this project, we can perceive many similar situations which help us understand the degree of vulnerability in which the majority of AMO families find themselves. This is the daily experience of the majority of the children in the surrounding Rio Doce neighborhoods!

We can deduce from the case studies that the majority of the families helped by AMO are comprised of a one-parent household, with the head of the family generally being the mother. Taking this into account, we can say that besides having problems with the social development of the child who does not have the necessary bonds of a male figure in his life, the mother must also adapt herself to being the difficult role-model of their society, where the women possess fewer opportunities of employment and lower salaries.

With this in mind, AMO provides the families, principally the women, with an opportunity, besides having a safe haven to leave their children, to learn an activity which will result in an increase in their income. The families have the opportunity at AMO to participate in home economics workshops in sewing, embroidery, crochet, and the fabrication of bags, purses, clothing and fancy dresses (for cultural events), etc., to sell to improve their livelihood.

They can also count on computer courses which are now essential in today’s labour market and to stay in contact with everything the internet has to offer. The families can also rely on a group of qualified, professional people, volunteers, guiding and advising them in the best way possible to be included in the labour market and to have access to their guaranteed rights.

The children, for their part, have in the AMO School, a place of inclusion and guarantee of their basic rights referring to the rights of EDUCATION, PLAY, SPORTS and CULTURE, rights as outlined in the (Federal Government’s) Statute of the Rights of Children and Youth—laws which govern the rights and duties of children and youth. Therefore, AMO counts on the children’s access to education through its early childhood education classes, review classes for children in grades two to five, besides music, dance, physical education, English, computer classes and excursions.

Through these activities, the AMO School provides a safe haven so the children can avoid going to the streets to pass their time begging for money and getting involved in drugs and other such activities that the street offers.

By means of the home visits and conversations with the families and children, AMO also tries to prevent situations of domestic violence, influencing in a positive way any situation in which the child finds himself, for any reason, victim at home, which includes informing the proper legal authorities.

Keeping the welfare of the children in mind, AMO also provides a well balanced, nutritious (vegetarian) diet for the children. As evident in the interviews, we can also perceive that their community is very violent, and therefore, it is necessary to use an educational philosophy based on positive, anti-violence values. In this way, the children learn to deal with all situations facing them in a peaceful manner creating an atmosphere of good experiences for themselves, their family and their community.

Please assist TOCA in helping the AMO children and families “stand on their own two feet” and uphold AMO’s motto: “Ajuda-me a Caminhar Sozino”—“Help me Stand on My Own Two Feet.”