Building Confidence in a Challenging Community

As a child, Helena* often struggled with low self-esteem and self-doubt. In the marginalized community in Brazil where she lives, many children must overcome overwhelming challenges growing up—crippling poverty, racism, abuse and violence, trafficking and crime, and limited access to education.

Fortunately, thanks to the support caring donors, Helena was able to join a Salvation Army education program when she was 6 years old. To date, this program has equipped 180 children and youth in the community, just like Helena, with education, nutritious meals, emotional support and the skills they need to build their confidence and overcome those serious challenges.

In addition, this program offers mothers and grandmothers—usually the primary caregivers in families—support and education about legal rights and social services and teaches them how to advocate for their families.

Today, Helena is 18 and brimming with confidence in a community where generous support is helping to empower youth. It’s not just education—it’s about restoring dignity, hope and opportunity.

“We benefited from having good nutrition and from everything the program did for us, and I am very grateful for that,” she says.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.