Partner Institution:

Social Program Crescer e Viver (Grow Up and Live) of the Samba School Unidos do proto da Pedra

Project:

Circus, Theater, Plastic Arts, Dance and Literature

Program:

Circus School Pequeno Tigre (Small Tiger)

Objective:

Provide learning and self-esteem for youth from low-income communities

Locality:

Samba School Unidos do Porto da Pedra - São Gonçalo; Circus tent at Praça Onze - Rio de Janeiro

PARTNER INSTITUTION AND PROJECT

The Escola de Circo Pequeno Tigre (Circus School Little Tiger), an initiative of the Social Program Crescer e Viver from the Samba School Unidos do Porto da Pedra, develops its activities in the city of São Gobnçalo, where the work is aimed at children, teenager and youth from low-income communities who study public schools, and in Rio de Janeiro, where the initiative is focused on attending youth who are living in Street situation.

The Circus School Little Tiger develops its activities in the perspective of the Social Circus, in which the circus arts integrated with other artistic languages such as music, theater, dance, capoeira, plastic arts and literature are used as a way to have a social-educative intervention, and as alternative pedagogic tool to the integral development, complementary education, protection and promotion of the citizenship of children, teenagers and youth in risk situation.

Besides of the direct work with the beneficiaries, the initiative also works the whole context that surrounds their lives (families, schools and communities). In this way, the project articulates the network of relationships and offers psychosocial support to the families responsible for the children, teenagers and youth through a consistent follow-up and meetings with family groups. 

The organization has as its partners such organizations as UNESCO, Cirque de Soleil (Canada), Dreams Can Be Foundation e Instituto Desiderata.

NEW BASEBALL PROGRAM - DEVELOPED BY JED ADLER
Volunteering in Brazil and teaching baseball to youths in the favela is a once in a lifetime opportunity for those interested. It is a perfect way to spend a summer vacation, winter vacation, or experience a new culture after recently graduating. The children are charming, intelligent, and improvements in their level of play and understanding of the game are noticeable after only weeks. Volunteers work with the children after school in the afternoons into the early evening. Free time can be spent absorbing the incredible culture of Brazil and enjoying a variety of activities including samba, jiu-jitsu, capoeira, and enjoying the beaches and nightlife of Rio. Although laced with subtle intricacies, baseball's basic rules can be readily absorbed in a few short weeks. It can easily be taught from one group of children to another, allowing the game to permeate parks and abandoned parking lots all over Rio, just as it has for years in the United States, Central America, and more recently in Australia, Asia, South Africa and the South Pacific. It is a game that takes a lifetime to master, but can be enjoyed by all, and its introduction to Rio de Janeiro will hopefully inspire Brazil to compete in the World Baseball Classic and learn to dominate the game and bring home gold, just as it has the World Cup of Soccer.

ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE DONE BY THE VOLUNTEER

Volunteers can teach or assist in teaching any of the following skill sets at beginner and/or advanced levels:

	Circus (all types of activities)
	Dance (all types)
	Theatre/Corporal expression
	Visual Arts (all forms: painting, drawing, sculpture, etc..)
	Music
	Capoeira
	Medicine and/or social assistance – Portuguese required.

In addition, Crescer e Viver is open to suggestions from potential volunteers that are interested in formatting a unique project that caters to the volunteer’s unique skills and fulfills the organization objectives. Such projects will need to demonstrate formative progression for the students or to the infrastructure of the organization, like a mural, or a sculpture, or other.

The program Crescer e Viver organizes a Work Plan, so that each day is dedicated to a different activity. 

The volunteer will work, approximately 20 hours per week.

Crescer e Viver can receive the maximum of 5 volunteers at a time in each locality; total of 10.

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

	Increase in the number of student attendances
	Learning Progression of students: meeting Crescer e Viver pedagogical objectives.
	Volunteer integration capacity with communities, staff, children, and youth.
	Number and types of activities developed.
	Volunteer interest level.
	Increased cross cultural knowledge of intern and of Crescer e Viver students and management.

Other indicators may be developed according to the specific program and activity performed.