Since 2004, Community in Action has delivered social outreach programs in favelas across Rio de Janeiro, providing donations and hosting thousands of volunteers, with the aim of continuously promoting long-term sustainable community development.
Education
Community in Action believes that education is a critical step in long-term sustainable development efforts. We support local projects in daycare centers, schools, and other NGOs through programming assistance, financial aid, educational materials, donations, and volunteer support.
- Served more than 10,000 students of all ages through educational programs.
- Established and delivered equipment to set up 12 computer labs in local schools and NGOs
- Raised funds and provided manual labor support to expand three community centers.
“Community in Action connected our NGO to an international foundation and wrote a grant to secure $15,000 in funding that helped improve our community center facilities. With these funds, we built new classrooms and open spaces to expand our educational programs. It made a huge impact and has allowed us to serve thousands of more residents per year.” – Tia Bete, Oca dos Curumins NGO, Director
Arts & Culture
Community in Action supports projects connecting youth with a vibrant cultural movement through art mural programs, graffiti art, art classes, sports, and extracurricular activities.
- Partnered with SprayVida–a local graffiti art initiative–to paint and reform over 200 homes, schools, and community spaces.
- Donated thousands of dollars worth of equipment to local sports programs and schools.
- Provided volunteer support and funding for diverse cultural outings that expose underserved youth to circus events, cinema, capoeira circles, museums, and more!
“Community in Action helped paint more than 200 houses in the Rocinha favela, working closely with Spray Vida (a graffiti program) and local artists. This work has made a lasting impact across the community in areas that have often been neglected. Many thanks to all the volunteers who support these initiatives!”Soca Souza, Community Artist
Empowerment
Community in Action empowers community residents and local non-profit organizations, providing work and educational opportunities as well as legal support services
- Sent more than 2,000 local residents to job interviews via state-run employment agencies.
- Funded and guided the Há Esperança NGO to obtain their CNPJ (official non-profit legal status in Brazil), which will provide more long-term funding and volunteer support opportunities.
- Established a women’s Cooperative to design and sell handicrafts in local markets, helping generate new sources of income for dozens of unemployed favelas residents.
“Community in Action gave me support to guarantee the continuity of my social project, making a generous financial donation to improve our classroom facilities, donating computers and school supplies, and helping us with the necessary legal processes to become an official NGO in Rio.” – Tayana Leôncio do Nascimento, Há Esperança Director
Manual Labor
Community in Action helps local residents achieve home improvement goals and improve community spaces, providing volunteer support and funding for manual labor projects.
- Built and/or renovated 10 homes for families in unlivable conditions.
- Transformed an abandoned soccer field into an open space for youth to partake in diverse extracurricular activities, social projects, and events.
- Constructed a playground in the Pavão-Pavãozinho favela, transforming a former trash site in an open play space for children.
“Community in Action helped me fulfill my dream and my 92 year-old mother’s dream of rebuilding our house after flood damage. We fought for many years to complete this work, but never had the funds to make it happen. With their help, along with other Community in Action alumni, we finally completed this home improvement project in 2019.” – Dona Ana, Complexo do Alemão Resident
Environment
Community in Action helps reform and maintain community gardens to promote environmental education programs and new sources of food generation.
- Built 5 community gardens with planting beds to grow diverse fruits and vegetables, one of which was a previous trash burning site in the large Manguinhos favela.
- Launched and oversaw programs for women and youth to leverage recycled materials to develop handicrafts and other products, with the ability to sell in local markets
- Provided volunteer support to local schools to teach students about the environment and gardening techniques.
“We are very appreciative of the support from large volunteer groups who have traveled to Rio de Janeiro to work with us. This past year, we designed and created a large community garden at our NGO. It is now producing fruits and vegetables for residents to enjoy. Thank you Community in Action!” Abraco Campeao
