RIO DE JANEIRO, BRASIL...

Project Brasil is located in Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, a South American city with more than six million residents.

Though Brasil is a third-world country, recent years have seen economic growth and increasing stability. Still, many people live on less than $3 a day. Tremendous opportunity exists here to make a big difference in the lives of many people.

Employers like to hire people who can speak English and can use a computer, so these are the skills we help people develop. We are currently involved in projects in two locations.

MORRO AZUL MISSION. Morro Azul is a small favela in the South Zone neighborhood of Flamengo, located near the metro station. With only a few thousand residents, Morro Azul is (for the most part) quiet and reasonably safe, making it an ideal community to do our work; many residents from nearby favelas are able to take advantage of our services as well. (Pictured at right: our building in Morro Azul.)

We have been working in this community for more than three years; here we offer English classes and computer courses, we helped start a church in the community, and we help support a small medical clinic. We are also in the process of developing a larger clinic to provide pediatric care.

BANGU MISSION. Bangu is a large neighborhood (250,000 residents) in the far West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. The west zone is much different than the touristy south zone; it's poorer and has more problems related to violence and drug trafficking. (Pictured below: a street in Bangu)

We have recently begun new areas of outreach in Bangu, including English classes, computer courses, a hair salon, soccer camps, counseling services, and have broken ground on a medical clinic. We are working in partnership with the Primeira Igreja Batista em Vila Alianca.

For a description of our areas of ministry, click the links at the top of the page.

ENGLISH CLASSES

In Brasil students attend public school half a day (either morning or afternoon). The public school system in a city like Rio de Janeiro is not without its challenges and limitations; getting a solid education isn't easy. Project Brasil was established to supplement and enhance student's education in two areas: English lessons and computer classes -- the two skills most necessary for advancement in Brasil.

WHAT WE DO
We offer basic and intermediate classes in English in two locations. The majority of our students are teenagers or adults. So far more than 100 students have completed our courses.

We provide certificates of completion awarded at the conclusion of each school term that will help students when seeking employment and/or college admissions.

Last year we remodeled our classroom in the second floor of our building and furnished it with new desks. We are now offering two English classes two days a week. 

We are also now offering English classes in our new ministry location in the community of Bangu, located in the West Zone of Rio de Janeiro. We have 3 weekly classes, serving a total of 16 students.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Volunteer to spend a week or two with us in Rio, assisting in teaching classes. Our students love it when English speaking volunteers join us.

THE COMPUTER CENTER

Brasil, like the rest of the world, is becoming increasingly dependent on technology. With few exceptions, classrooms in the public schools don't have computers; students receive no formal computer training. We established a computer center in our community with five state of the art PCs. (Pictured at right: students receive certificates upon completion of each term.)

COMPUTER COURSES
In January 2006 we opened our first computer center in Morro Azul. We offer classes five days a week, 6 hours a day, teaching more than 50 students each week. Students range in ages from 8 to 50. From the beginning our classes have been filled to capacity. We have trained more than 150 students.

We offer courses in basic computer skills, such as Windows, Word, Excel, and Internet, as well as giving people in the community an opportunity to use the computers (in a supervised setting) for entertainment and recreation.

Our second computer center, in the community of Bangu, is now open. We have classes everyday, with more than 30 students enrolled. (Pictured at right: upgrading used computers donated to our center in Bangu.)

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Many people ask if they can donate their old computer. Unfortunately, Brasil does not allow computers to be imported from other countries, so donating used computers is not an option. But there are other ways to help.

• Volunteer to spend a week (or two) with us, assisting in teaching our courses.

• Make a donation to help us purchase computer equipment, paper, cartridges, etc.

THE MEDICAL CLINIC

From the beginning, Steve's vision for Project Brasil has been to establish a medical clinic in the communities we serve.

Events in 2007 have paved the way for this dream to become reality. Thanks to some generous donations from members of the Alderson family, we now have the resources to start a fully functional family clinic in our ministry center at Bangu, where we will be able to serve hundreds of patients each week. Construction for this clinic is now under way! Click here for photos of our progress.

THE ANNA AND MONROE ALDERSON FAMILY HEALTH CLINIC Anna and Monroe Alderson were lifelong Christians who spent their earthly years serving the Lord. Anna's special gift was her loving spirit, and her heart was on the mission field. She devoted many years of service to the United Methodist Women and raised money for numerous mission projects. As Anna rose to conference positions in the church women's organization, those under her guidance followed her example of reaching out to others in love. Although a layman, Monroe's heart and talents were in preaching and spreading the Word. Always providing leadership in church settings, he organized prayer cells and Sunday School classes, sang in choirs, and mentored young men. In his later years, Monroe organized a lay ministry program that provided speakers to small churches without pastors. Together, the Aldersons reared a large and loving family of devoted Christians. (This is a photograph of the Aldersons taken in 1948.) In honor of their years of service to Christ and His Church, family members established this clinic.

Construction will be completed in May 2008. Soon we will be equipped and staffed to see patients five days a week. We are excited about this new development in our outreach to the communities we serve. Special thanks to the Alderson Family for getting this project off the ground!

WHAT YOU CAN DO

To contribute to the Alderson Family Health Clinic, click here.

If you are a medical professional, you can volunteer to some time with us. One week can make a big difference in the lives of so many people. You will be working with medical professionals here who also speak English, so the language difference won't be a problem.

OTHER MINISTRIES

In addition to computer center and English courses, we offering the following.

Cosmetology Courses. Last fall our partner church in Bangu graduated 20 students from a course in hairstyling. The class was taught by a licensed cosmetologist. Students received a completion certificate qualifying them for employment in beauty salons and barber shops. Project Brasil is now sponsoring these courses to continue in 2008.

Hand Crafts. We have a new hand-craft class with 15 students who are learning how to design, sew, paint and decorate linens and clothing items and other decorative items. This is not a hobby class; our students are able to sell their creations in the street market for personal income.

Job Training. Project Brasil was asked by city government to provide computer training for several social workers who are involved in outreach programs for children. Also this year, at the request of city hall, we began a program designed for men recently released from prison, aimed at helping them develop computer skills and additional necessary job skills.

Library. The Bangu church recently remodeled two rooms in the learning center, and have recently opened the doors to a new library. The library is a quiet, safe place for people in the  community to read, study, and learn. The library is currently has about 3000 books. We are working to add more, plus a TV/DVD to increase learning opportunities.

Football Camp. Brasilians are passionate about football (soccer.) We now offer afternoon sessions three days a week, for more than fifty children in our area, providing them a safe alternative to playing in the streets, also giving them an opportunity to have great fun, and learn sportsmanship.

Community needs. Each month we provide special care for people in the community: food, clothes, medicine. There is much poverty here and little relief available from the government; our assistance makes a big difference in the lives of many families.

Community Lunch. In April 2008 we will begin offering a free meal to residents of community near Bangu. We will be serving approximately 100 people each Friday.

School Supplies. Last year we took part in a project to provide school supplies — books, pencils, rulers, paper — for hundreds of Brasilian school children.

Christmas Party. Our goal each year is to host a community-wide Christmas party for local children. The party includes music, food, and gifts for every child under 12. For some, this is the only Christmas gift they receive.

Personal Counseling. We provide free counseling from a licensed therapist. In a community torn by violence and poverty, this is a much needed type of support.

Worship Ministries. Project Brasil is more than a humanitarian organization; our goals extend beyond providing educational opportunities, job training and medical assistance. The driving force behind our work is to help people make a life-changing connection with Jesus Christ and to grow into a life of committed discipleship.

Our goal is to provide people with the tools necessary to build better lives in all areas, soul and body and spirit. This is why we work in partnership with local churches in each community.

Project Brasil was instrumental in helping Morro Azul Igreja Metodista get established. We provided space for them to meet for the first two years (they are now able to rent their own building). We continue to work in cooperation with the church in realizing common goals, and Steve preaches and leads worship there frequently when he is in Rio.

We also work in partnership with Primeira Igreja Batista em Vila Alianca. Primera Igreja Batista is a church of about 300 people. They are actively involved in ministry to their community, doing evangelism and discipleship, as well as partnering with Project Brasil in social projects. Their goal, like ours, is to give people the tools for building better lives, to increase their educational and economic opportunities as well as helping them establish solid, stable lives through following Jesus.