Yara Aquino
Reporter Agência Brasil

Brasília - Yesterday minister of Sports, Agnelo Queiroz, handed out 800 pairs of tennis shoes and socks to children who participate in the government's Second Half program. The ceremony took place in Sobradinho, a city outside Brasilia.

The Second Half program has now reached over a million children in 800 municipalities around the country. The program assists children in elementary or high school, who come from low- income families, to practice sports, attend catch-up classes and receive nutritious meals, all at the same time - in their after-school hours. And the program keeps them off the streets.

"A child's place is in school, not on the street. That is the program's main objective. We are working to improve grades, self-esteem, health and also to prevent problems in the future with these young people," explained the minister. "We have reports of kids in the program doing better in school, being more sociable, more interested in learning. The program is simple and cheap. But it has a sensational effect on the lives of these young people."

Queiroz went on to say that one program goal is to double the number of children enrolled by the end of next year. "We should have 2 million kids in the program then," he concluded.

Translator: Allen Bennett