Brasília, July 26, 2004 (Agência Brasil - ABr) - Approximately 56 thousand adolescents who live in conditions of poverty and risk, far from school classrooms and close to criminal elements, are acquiring notions of citizenship and how to contribute to the communities in which they live. This year the Ministry of Social Development and Hunger Alleviation's Youth Agent program has US$ 18.5 million (R$ 55 million) available for activities such as the distribution of monthly stipends of US$ 21.60 (R$ 65) for each youngster and orientation courses in various areas.
According to the Ministry's National Secretary of Social Assistance, Márcia Lopes, the Youth Agent program represents one of the action strategies in states and municipalities, as far as youth policy is concerned. "There is a clear political decision on the part of President Lula and Minister Patrus Ananias to invest in Brazilian youth," she points out, recalling that the chief result of the program "is that young people achieve higher self-esteem and recognition."
The program exists in all municipalities in which municipal social assistance departments present solicitations and develop local environmental, health, and education programs. The selection of the adolescents is done by the municipal social assistance departments, which form groups of 25 adolescents between 15 and 17 years old.
From the Secretary's perspective, the program unites important elements. First, because it guarantees that the young people remain in school and because it establishes a system of qualification in various fields of learning. "Consequently, they participate in a course that lasts 300 hours during the year, preparing them to become leaders, monitors, and educational multipliers in the community."
The Youth Agent program has been under development for several years, and Minister Ananias's idea is to coordinate it with other programs, such as the Integral Family Care program, and to enlarge it, beginning next year.
Reporter: Benedito Mendonça
Translator: David Silberstein
