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In an interview with Comunidade Segura, attorney Moema Salgado, coordinator of Viva Rio's Interpersonal Conflict Mediation program in Haiti, talks about the importance of community participation in conflict mediation. She says conflict mediation is about "…enhancing dialogue, encouraging participation, and strengthening community ties. "

Haitian youth have become involved in direct armed conflict since 2003. Child soldiers—as they are called by the community and also among themselves—play different roles, which vary according to age, gender or even abilities.

On Sunday the 23rd, Brazilians and Haitians took part in a morning full of sporting activities dedicated to creating an environment of peace and boost spirits still struggling with problems a year after the devastating earthquake of January 2010. Brazilian athletes traveled to Port-au-Prince to talk about sports, children filled Kay Nou, and a six kilometer run poured energy into one of the largest sporting events ever held in Haiti.

Exactly 12 months after the tremors that shook Haiti and left its capital Port-au-Prince in rubbles, killing more than 200,000 and displacing more than a million, little has changed. At least that's how it may seem.

With a few reported cases of cholera in Bel Air, the disease that is
taking lives in the interior of Haiti is now threatening the capital
Port-au-Prince. Viva Rio headquarters will house a special prevention,
treatment and information center to support locals during the outbreak.

A shared passion for soccer in Haiti and Brazil led Viva Rio kick start a project to foster the "beautiful game" in Haiti, building a traning center and bringing Haitian teams to train Brazil. Women's team players came to Rio de Janeiro during the pre Gold Cup session.

Located in the center of Port-au-Prince, the neighborhood of Bel-Air suffers from a lack of basic services – and water is one of those. According to a study conducted by Viva Rio in June of 2007, this basic staple is so rare that the price of water is seven times higher than in Europe. That's the origin of the project “Dlo Fanm Sante” (‘Water, Women and Health’).

Prior to the quake, security had improved and residents called for declassifying Bel Air as a red zone. They wanted their neighborhood green, green for entry and green because of a campaign to bring trees and plants back into the neighborhood and to the roofs of their homes. Since the quake, the emphasis is on restoring nature so that peace will follow...

Aggravating a situation that borders on calamity is poor waste management. Fatra Pa Gen Pye, the title of the Viva Rio project that was originally concerned with removing refuse now also looks at clearing debris from the quake. "Locals have increased their purchasing power", said Leonard Jean, project coordinator.

Viva Rio's Community Protection Brigade in Port-au-Prince, Haiti: 30 youths, men and women, ready to help in emergencies. Busy by definition, over the past few months they have devoted themselves tirelessly to helping the community where they live.