<p>Thanks for taking the time to visit my JustGiving page.</p> <p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The purpose of The Good Shepherd Project is to break the cycle of poverty, violence and despair that trap children and young people from the shanty towns of Brazil. Operating in areas of high social deprivation, the Good Shepherd Project seeks to protect children from exposure to the drug, alcohol, physical and sexual abuse that permeates the impoverished communities, Founded in 1993, GSP is a UK registered charity that funds the provision of education, skills training, nutrition and healthcare to children at risk. </span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The charity oversees two projects located in shanty town communities in Belo Horizonte, and Rio de Janeiro. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;</span>This summer I will be spending nearly four weeks working at as part of a team of 20 young people at the Projeto Alcancando Vidas (Reaching Lives Project), which is located in Niteroi, a suburb of Rio de Janeiro.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>In order to cover the costs of the trip each of us has to raise a sum of &pound;1,700. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</span>We have been babysitting, washing cars, painting and organising events to raise the money.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span></span></span></p> <p><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Niteroi is an area of dense drug trafficking and warring gangs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>Children as young as four are used to carry drugs between dealers and addicts, which has led to them becoming known as &lsquo;little aeroplanes&rsquo; for the role they play in this kind of activity. The Reaching Lives Project provides a safe place for children to spend their day, offering meals, showers, clothes, education and medical care. Financial support comes from the UK and Brazil with some practical support from neighbouring churches in Niteroi. Food retailers from the region's market town also donate their surplus stock to the project.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">The project welcomes volunteers from overseas charitable organisations who come as individuals or in teams for short term missions either to carry out specific tasks such as decorating &amp; building or to support staff in the daily running of the project&rsquo;s work.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">Volunteer teams get involved in every aspect of the work. Teachers enjoy having additional support in the classrooms and the children enjoy the extra attention that they receive from their overseas 'uncles' &amp; 'aunties'. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">As part of the training for the trip we have been learning basic Portuguese and practising some games, crafts and lessons that we will be doing with the children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">&nbsp; </span>I understand from people who have been to the project before that the experience is a very challenging one and one which has changed their outlook on the many things that we take for granted in this country. </span></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;">&nbsp;Angus Paterson 2011</span></span></p> <p> <p>Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.</p> </p>