Casa CarioKa´s involvement in Favela Project CIACAC

The city of Rio de Janeiro can be split into two parts: the Zona Sul or South Zone, home to world-famous beaches, RJ´s rich and famous, some of Brazil´s most well-known monuments and attractions, and as a natural result - exceptional tourism. The Zona Norte or North Zone is the flip-side to this, far from the beautiful coastline and recreational activities, it is removed from the eyes of tourism and above all, the money and opportunities that this generates.

CIACAC, a tiny NGO that runs a children´s education initiative, is from a favela in this northern zone. An amazing, self-educated mother of two, Neuza Nascimento chose to give up the security of a well-paying job in order to open up her own house in her community Parque Jardim Beira Mar so that children have another recreational option besides playing in the street - their own safe space to play, discover, grow and question. Now in operation for nearly eight years, she struggles with the help of kind donations and contributions as well as local and international volunteers to give these children workshops in rights and citizenship, English, Art and Capoeira, as well as go on excursions and camps.

Casa CarioKa first made contact with CIACAC through two of its team who are active volunteers in this project. It now participates actively with a recycling project: resellable products such as tin cans are saved to earn money for the project, and materials are saved for art classes. Casa CarioKa also encourages departing travellers to leave unwanted clothes to take to the community and their spare change as donations. Casa CarioKa organises fund raiser parties to raise money for the initiative, and lodges the children periodically from the project for a couple of days so that they can enjoy a fun weekend away by the world-famous Copacabana beach.

Art Class

Opportunities are available to live and work at Casa CarioKa to compliment volunteering in this project - contact web@CasaCarioKa.com.

If you would like more information, or would like to volunteer, contribute to the project or make a donation, get in contact through the CIACAC website www.ciacac.org.