Reaching Lives

Description:

Sao Goncalo is one of the most deprived areas within the state of Rio de Janeiro. Just 40 minutes from the fabulous beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema, Barro Vermelho is surrounded by favelas (slums) which are supported by poor or non-existent public facilities. The grassroots non-governmental organisation Reaching Lives was initiated by a local church who felt that that had to do something for the children in the area, many of whom were not in school, mal-nourished and suffered the dangers created by the various street gangs that control the nearby areas.

Locally run and community based, Reaching Lives provides education, sports and crafts activities, community and social support, nutrition and hot meals to over ninety children from the nearby slums (favelas). We also run outreach programs in the local communities, offering support to the families of the children enrolled in the program.