Hoje foi maravilosso!!!

We toured the City of Youth campus where the boys live; the children attend school, and receive vocational training. Pastor Derli shared his heart and passion for the children as he explained the hopes and greater vision he has for the organization.

Summary of Pastor Derli’s Conversation with Our Team

How and why do children come to the City of Youth (Boys Campus) or the Chacara (Girls ranch)?

The Brazilian Children’s Court decides the placement of each child after investigating their family situation, emotional well-being, and physical health. Many of the children are placed at the City of Youth or Chacara because they are in imminent danger as a result of abuse, drugs, poverty, neglect, or abandonment. Often parents are unable to take care of their children or don’t want to.

What kinds of vocational opportunities are given to the kids?

Vocation training gives an added advantage to the kids in finding a good career, they get a basic introduction in Cosmetology, Computers (hardware, software and networking), Cooking and Baking, Music, Auto Body works like denting, painting and repairing and then are given a complete course of their choice.

Is there anything you want to share that particularly touched your heart?

These two, beautiful boys, were brought to the City of Youth after being rescued. Their step father was a drug trafficker and when he was released from jail, the boys’ lives were at risk when he threatened to recruit them to traffic drugs for him. While at the City of Youth, the boys visited regularly with their grandmother whom they were particularly fond of. The boys were happy and well adjusted. Then suddenly, everything changed. The stepfather was overheard by a neighbor promising to find the boys no matter where they were. In fear for their safety, the neighbor reported this to the authorities, who together with staff from City of Youth made a decision to bring the boys to Hope Mountain campus in Victoria for the boys’ protection. However, Victoria is a great distance from the City of Youth and from where their grandmother lives. Because of this, their grandma was unable to visit them and stay in contact in the same way. This broke the hearts of both boys and they struggled at first to get readjusted.However, recently I visited them and they asked me to bring back a few letters for their grandma. I asked one of the boys if I could read the letter and he agreed. In the letter, the boy described to his grandma how he was doing well and how much he missed her. He also shared how he was learning to cook in one of his classes and that he learned how to make his favorite dish… The dish his grandma always made for him. It brought tears to my eyes thinking about how their story is similar to that of many of the kids that here, but the hope for their future is alive.

Is there anything specific you would like us to pray for?

Recently, the city government proposed a plan to replace places like City of Youth with smaller foster homes. However, this is against our beliefs of how kids’ lives are transformed. We believe that rebuilding and rehabilitation is best when the children are introduced to peers who have been here and are doing well.