Brazil

You are here: Our projects > Where we work> Brazil

In Brazil, Handicap International to give technical and financial support to Vida Brasil, our partner organisation, whilst encouraging its progress towards financial independence. Thus Vida Brasil has diversified its sources of funding and now has an operational communication and marketing unit.

CONTEXT
The political and legal context in Brazil seems to favour the promotion of individual rights. The democratic regime established in 1985 is evidence of this, as is the legal system: a national programme for human rights, a status for children and adolescents, etc. However, social and economic inequalities are such that exercising their human rights is still beyond the reach of certain particularly vulnerable groups, who therefore find themselves excluded.
Applying the laws is hindered by a lack of information, an insufficient number of adequate official organisations, and numerous administrative and financial difficulties, etc.

BACKGROUND
Handicap International has been working in Brazil since1993. A nutrition education project was the first to be set up in the poor districts in Fortaleza. In 1996, Handicap International helped with the creation of a Brazilian NGO, Vida Brasil (Valorisation of the Individual and Active Development). In 1998, this association, based at Fortaleza, opened an office in Salvador de Bahia and, with our support, developed new initiatives.
From 1995 to 2000, Handicap International also contributed to creating the first public orthopaedic workshop in Brazil, at Salvador de Bahia.

ACTIVITIES
We will continue to support the partnership’s principal activities

• in Salvador de Bahia: the accessibility of the town to people with disabilities, and the artistic education group “Buscapé” for young people in difficulty
• in Fortaleza: support to activity for the organisation and protection of low-income consumers and initiation of a research-action process in the field of disability.

The work carried out in 2003 to help Vida Brasil capitalise on its experience in the field of accessibility to the built environment for people with disabilities will also continue.
There are perspectives for collaborating on the economic inclusion of people with disabilities in Salvador de Bahia.
We will facilitate direct exchanges between this Brazilian organisation and our teams in Nicaragua.

PUBLIC TARGETED

• 15 associations for people with disabilities in Salvador de Bahia that form a Civil Commission on Accessibility in El Salvador.
• 7 associations addressing the problems of vulnerable children in Salvador.
• 6 associations for consumer protection in Fortaleza.
• 412 community-based associations, which make up the Federation of the Districts and Favelas of Fortaleza.

CONTACTS
Fortaleza:  fortaleza@vidabrasil.org.br
Salvador de Bahia: salvador@vidabrasil.org.br