(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Doha: Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, in partnership with Association Apprentice School City (Aprendiz) and the Municipal Secretary of Education of Rio de Janeiro has secured access to education for 16,000 children living in Rio";s slums.
Educate A Child (EAC), a programme of EAA Foundation, in partnership with Apprendiz and the Municipal Secretary of Education, hosted a major event — Aluno Presente (Present Student) — at Bayt Qatar to announce that they have enrolled 16,239 children into primary schools in under two years.
Life can be very difficult for the population of the favelas (slums) in Rio. Life expectancy is 48, there is high unemployment and violence is rife.
For the thousands of children growing up there, gaining an education can be the only lifeline out of poverty.
In partnership with EAC, Aprendiz is expanding the Department of Education";s ‘Schools of Tomorrow"; programme in Brazil to ensure quality basic education for the children of Rio";s favelas.
Some of the boys and girls who have benefitted from the programme attended the event and took part in art, music and dance activities to highlight how the different cultural identities of Qatar and Brazil are working together to provide them with a chance of a better future.
EAC";s ability to forge positive and constructive relationships with the partners has been key to delivering for some of Brazil";s poorest children.
The success of the programme is based on three key strands: A data system that enables staff to identify and collate information on the most effective support for out-of-school children; a field team with trained managers and professionals skilled in dealing with some of the social problems faced by children growing up in poverty; and close partnership with local partners and municipal governments to help children and their families access their basic rights
Given the success of the model, EAC and its partners have set a new target of reintegrating almost 5,000 more children and adolescents into education by this year-end. That would bring the total to 21,000 – a significant achievement in such a short time.
Following the event, Fahad Al-Sulaiti, Chief Executive, EAA Foundation, said: 'The Aluno Presente was a fantastic event which highlighted the important way education offers a future to children in Brazil and across the world.
'This was also an exciting opportunity to showcase our successful partnership with Association Apprentice School City in Rio and the important role played by the Municipal Secretary of Education in supporting efforts of the project which aims to reintegrate 21,000 out-of-school children and adolescents by the end of 2016,” he added.
The Peninsula