From pre-school to the job market

Education, job training, professional guidance, social and medical care. It is, in this case, not a list of demands, but of services offered by the Mata Escura and Calabetão Association of Parochial Communities (Acopamec), an area that brings together close to 76 thousand inhabitants in the periphery of Salvador, capital of Bahia.

Born in 1990, the association visited by the Comunidad Segura caravan provides care directly to approximately 2,500 children and adolescents. Indirectly, its benefits extend to four thousand youths in the community, according to Miriam Costa, vice-president and coordinator of the Job Training Center.

Acopamec's work is wide ranging. Its preschool, for example, cares for children from age 3 to 24 year-old youths. " In the past the local parish would offer services strictly to preschoolers. We realized that it was necessary to keep track of them until they became adults, and the association simply grew to meet that need, " said Miriam.

Job Training

Acopamec offers a series of options for youths that turn up at its doors in search of job training. Apart from technical skills such as craftswork, beauty, hairdressing, computer  literacy, breadmaking, mosaic, cooking, dental hygenist and other specialties, youths are able to sign up for classes in Portuguese, calculus, citizenship, art and computer skills.

A job placement partnership with  Petrobras' Young Apprentice program helps the association guide these youths towards the work place.  “ Youths from the neighborhood have great difficulty getting transportation, and gives them little in terms of a wider experience. Our work is in many ways, opening up new possibilities,” said Miriam. According to her, the neighborhood is afflicted with violence and the presence of the drug trade.
 

Community presence felt strongly

To have a close relation to the community is one of the main goals of Acopamec. Local community representatives are invited to take part in forums to foster community involvement in the work developed by the association. Prior to entering the program, youths are visited by a team of social educators in their own homes.

“For an entire year the team of educators works with the youth in question, through express his or her experiences through play, sports and leisure. After that he is sent to the educational center,” said the association vice-president.  This stage, according to her, helps strengthen the youth's family foundations, that is an important part of violence prevention. The association has just completed building a sports court that will be used by the entire community.

Public authorities and third sector united

Part of the work developed in education by Acopamec is connected to public authorities. Miriam explains that the classrooms ceded by the municipal and state authorities allow them more space for the classes given in the project. The association also heads the Municipal Council for Child and Adolescent Rights (CMDCA), and its contributions center on improving the quality of live in the periphery of Salvador.  “ We are not associated to political parties, but we are dedicated to social transformation. Our goal is to pressure for more public policy for youths in the periphery”, said Miriam.

Read Further:

Associação das comunidades paroquiais de Mata Escura e Calabetão (In Portuguese)