Sustainable development in Brazil’s peripheries

In the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, the help alliance project “Youth Center” with the Instituto Juventude Criativa (IJC) continues to gain momentum. The focus is on a common goal: promoting sustainable social and ecological development in the surrounding area of São Lourenço da Mata – where poverty and potential exist side by side.

Since 2018, help alliance has been supporting the IJC and promoting the expansion and operation of the local youth center. Children and young people can take part in sports courses and English lessons there and have the opportunity to learn an instrument. The afternoon activities enable around 400 children to escape their monotonous, child–unfriendly everyday lives amid poverty and crime. The educational opportunities offered by the project enable them to improve their school performance and give them better chances of finding a skilled job later on.

During a high-level visit – including German Consul General Johannes Bloos and representatives of local and regional politics – the commitment of help alliance and the IJC was recognized on site. Together with the city administration and the state of Pernambuco, the project is now to be strategically expanded and scaled up.

The goal is to create a transferable model of sustainable development that combines education, social justice, and environmental responsibility. help alliance is not only providing financial support, but also specifically promoting the transfer of knowledge and technology to ensure the long–term impact of the IJC initiatives.

“This international cooperation shows how development can succeed – with local roots, innovative ideas, and a shared vision for the future,” says Anderson Coutinho, CEO and founder of the IJC. The project exemplifies help alliance’s commitment to working with strong partner organizations to create future opportunities for disadvantaged young people worldwide.