Direct assistance to children and adolescents between 7 and 16 years old, offering academic and family support, as well as cultural extra-curricular activities, to instill positive role models and to stimulate involvement.
To keep children and adolescents away from the street and from social risk situations, through projects that make the most of concepts such as citizenship, self-respect and human dignity. This all happens with the help and engagement of professors, educators and volunteers. This work is aimed at children and adolescents' reintegration into family, school and community, through games and educational activities.
The Cata-Vento Projects are situated in the outskirts of Barreiras, each one making use of structures as adequate as possible to study and amusement needs.
- Cata-Vento I (boys) Vila Brasil
- Cata-Vento II (girls) Vila Brasil
- Cata-Vento III (boys) Cascalheira district
- Cata-Vento IV (girls) Santa Luzia district
- Cata-Vento V (boys) Santa Luzia district
- Cata-Vento VI(girls) Vila dos Funcionários
Children and adolescents are registered each one in his Cata-Vento (60 each), then inquiries are made to observe individual situations (family, finances, etc.). Socio-educational works are developed aiming at diminishing school evasion, and reduction of criminal activities. These activities include families, aiming at better social inclusion besides we try to increase the number of promotions at various scholastic levels; because most of the children and adolescents are below normal levels, without knowing how to read or write. Currently 360 students are assisted, between children and adolescents, in the four districts where the Cata-Vento Project is actuated.
To encourage a better development of our children and adolescents, a new academic plan is in work supporting already existing activities with four new practical and theoretical workshops (theater/dance, percussion/capoeira, arts/craft, circus). We keep on working towards objectives such as childhood and youth involvement, and the increase of personal dignity and willpower.
Our work continues with a complete school support, through periodical visits aimed at observation of learning conditions, behaviour and assiduity of each person. Among the families, home visits were accomplished to know the reality of every child inside his family, and to plan a course based on the real situation of each boy and girl. Monthly meetings and workshops are also planned inside the community, together with parents, stimulating the participation of children and adolescents, together with their families, in the religious and communitarian life of their districts.
Children and adolescents don't participate all together to the same activities, but are divided into little groups, based on age and interests, to make things more functional and pleasant.
- SCHOOL SUPPORT: to fix contents learned at school. To assist in individual needs (Daily support of scholastic activities; assisted and individual reading; copying of texts and blackboard activities; informal conversations with emphasis on historical dates; production of texts).
- RELAXING: to develop socio-affective activities. Relaxing body and mind. use of audio tapes with music and messages.
- RELIGIOUS TEACHINGS: to create and develop base conditions for children (supported by educators) to realize together an educational process which transforms and sets free, cultivating and maturing one's choice of faith. (Use of tapes with biblical contents; activities to accompany the liturgical act; baptism and first communion courses; celebrations with nuns; debates regarding current events; informal conversations aimed at human formation).
- RECREATION: to develop physical, and social abilities (Guided activities; games).
- COOKING: to develop cooking abilities. To teach domestic economy basics. preparing food for daily meals, observing hygienic and economical processes learning.
- PERCUSSION AND CAPOEIRA: to help children and adolescents socialize through this cultural mean, developing physical abilities, besides individual abilities regarding percussion instruments (Guided by capoeira trainers. Construction of the typical capoeira musical instruments).
- DANCE: to discover together with children and adolescents that our body is a living source of communication, and that through it we can show who we are and what we feel (Choreographies made with different rhythms and styles, guided by a dance teacher and with rehearsal).
- THEATRE AND CIRCUS: to stimulate among children and adolescents a tendency to express themselves artistically and culturally, and to favour group activities, waking up those gifts which often remain undiscovered. (Dramatizations emphasizing history dates, biblical scenes, presentations with clowns and jugglers, etc.).
- COMMUNICATION: to inform children and adolescents so that they may become aware of the bonds existing between the various projects, spreading news, and information about our activities.
- ARTS: to develop artistic abilities and creativity, emphasizing the use of recyclable and discarded materials, and stimulating individual involvement (Production of finger painting, pictures, collages, cuttings, modeling, working with tissue, paper, wood, leather and glass, artificial flowers, laces, adorning of party rooms, decorations, jewel boxes, portraits, toy cars made with discarded materials, paintings, origami, etc.).
- COMPUTER SCIENCE: to learn basic concepts of computer use, through graphical activities, typing, creation of tables, Internet use (Lessons guided by a volunteer; free Internet access; helping CDIC functionaries).
- CINEMA: weekly cinema session, not just for entertainment, but also as a vehicle of educational messages (equipment supplied by the Digital Culture Circle).
Monthly visits to the schools attended by children and adolescents, where they follow regular teaching programs.
Workshops and meetings with parents (biological or not) regarding family cohabitation.
Community meetings to re-include children and adolescents.
Medical and dental support.
Practical support to children and adolescents made by street educators, to avoid their return to street-life.
Meetings and workshops to emphasize the value of life, dignity and citizenship.