Criança Esperança (Childrens Hope Center)

Non-governmental organisation. Brazil visit December 2008

Recognized by the United Nations, the Criança Esperança program has been putting together social programs to help children from the favelas since 1986. In partnership with UNESCO, the aim is to reduce child mortality, and to fight child labor and sexual exploitation among these children exposed to drug trafficking.   A vast educational plan helps them into jobs. In partnership with the national TV channel TV Globo, Criança Esperança also works with artists and journalists to raise awareness of the cause – to give the poorest and weakest a chance in life. Visit by Carla Bruni during her trip to Brazil in December 2008. In the Cantagalo favela, perched on the heights of Ipanema, blue, white and red balloons had been put up. With a tambourine accompaniment,  the children in Father Christmas hats welcomed her singing tanti auguri a te (happy birthday). Accompanied by some 50 children, Carla Bruni planted a cutting of Pau Brasil — the flame-colored tree that gave the country its name –  in the educational center’s small garden.