Some of the recreation activities for school reinforcement include: Project Nutrition (Top photo) and Theatre Presentation (Bottom photo)

RUMO Extends Project Development

To better educate and change the social conditions of our children, many projects such as the “Friends Of My Neighbourhood (PAI)” have taken full effect in the Educational Institute Rubens Moraes (RUMO) Since February 2007. This project has 21 children six years of age, that are enrolled in the first grade, and will spend part of their day at RUMO instead of being on the streets. In total, the institute currently takes care of 85 children.

“Our relationship with the older children of specific neighborhoods that are less privileged than others, has to be carefully measured, and our constant attention and caring are extremely needed. We know that they are devoted, and that our affection and attention are depended on,” says the president of the institute, Viviane Hellen Romano.

Program PAI, enriches our early education for children enrolled in first grade. During their mornings, the children attend the school Jose Settles of Toledo in their neighbourhood, and at 12:30 PM they are taken to RUMO, where their afternoons include learning, playing, creating, and interacting with other children.

“We have several activities for school reinforcement, in classes of art, English, recreation, etc… We do everything to occupy their free time with activities and we also supply them with lunch and snacks. We currently take care of the 21 first graders, but our objective is to increase every year,” says the director Ana Estela Benedetti.

PSYCHOLOGY — the children are at RUMO until 4:30 PM, and part of their program is to receive psychological support to benefit themselves and their families at home. ”We make individual sections, and many times we notice that they arrive with enormous speech difficulties where they can barely say their name. It’s so gratifying to see their improvement,” Claude says.

The psychologist also works with the children’s families, by visiting them at home. “There are common situations of domestic violence and many problems in the family structure. We can’t neglect that the children behave as they are treated at home,” she says.

The Institute relies on corporate and private donations. The estimated cost to support each child (currently 85 are attending) represents an investment of R$ 450,00 monthly. RUMO organizes monthly events to collect additional resources.