In our world today, while many prosper, many in the majority world are falling behind as the gap between those who have and those who have not increases.

Nowhere is this more noticeable and profound than in Brazil, an economic giant of a nation, yet also victim to horrendous rates of poverty and social marginalization.

Brazil is a country of amazing natural beauty. Internationally, people recognise the magnificent Amazon basin with its bountiful river, rainforests and exotic wildlife. In addition the strong religious identity of Brazil is well known with the iconic figure of Christ, with his arms outstretched, standing majestically above the city of Rio de Janeiro.

We are familiar with the incredible dancing and music on display during Carnivale. The Brazilian passion for life and love is also well renowned. The distinctive beats of Samba and the incredible feats of the Brazilian football team are also seductive illustrations of Brazil’s unique culture.

But there is another Brazil that the world has also had brief insights into: the favelas, the drugs, the crime and the poverty.

Brazil is the fifth largest country in area, and the fourth most populous democracy in the world. It is also a country of extreme contrasts between rich and poor.

Although regarded by the World Bank and the International Monetary fund as having the ninth largest economy in the world, studies suggest that more than a third of Brazil's population of 179 million people - that is over 50 million people - live below the poverty line.

More than 8 million live in 'favelas' – a Portuguese word for ‘small plot’. The favelas are sprawling urban slum areas which have arisen out of peoples need to find an affordable place to live in the cities of Brazil. Many of those who live in the Favelas have come from the North or North East of the country where the shortage of land for rural farmers has left more than two million families landless. Many of the favelas inhabitants are descendants of freed African slaves. Brazil has one of the largest populations of people of African descent living outside the continent of Africa.

They have come to the city over the last four generations, in the hope of a better future for themselves and their children and the lure of employment.

Those who live in the favelas, such as SaoPaolo’s Vila Prudents are Brazils invisible poor. Hidden away in shanty dwellings built on unoccupied or supposedly uninhabitable land, their homes are makeshift often tacked together from packing cases, rusted iron or other scrap materials. Often these rudimentary shelters are overcrowded, do not have running water, sewerage systems, or electricity.

There are few opportunities for employment. Some are able to obtain work in factories or work as domestic servants for upper middle class or rich families but often this work is highly exploitive with poor wages and working conditions. Others are forced to earn an income from the street by either selling foodstuffs or other goods or alternately, illegal activities.

Drug trafficking, the trafficking of women, and gang violence is rife in Brazil’s favelas. Gangs struggle for control and criminals often hide from the authorities in the narrow overcrowded streets.

The favelas often border very wealthy or upper middle class suburbs – the difference between those who have and those who have not being starkly contrasted. It is not suprising therefore that if a child from the favelas is offered a fancy pair of running shoes like those worn by the wealthy kids, if they will just take this package from one spot to another, they find it hard to refuse.

When just having enough to eat and providing access to health care and education is beyond the reach of many, the enticement of luxury goods is often too much and many are drawn into a life of crime and too often end up in gangs.

Discrimination against those who live in the favelas is widespread. Carmen Roberts, a citizen of Sao Paolo now living in Australia, relates many examples of those she knows who, when applying for a job have disclosed, or had their address recognised, as being within a favela, with the result that they are refused employment. The perception that everyone who lives there is a criminal or drug user is common.

Transparency International lists Brazil at number 46 on its list of corrupt countries, placing it in the middle. Corruption exists at many levels of Brazilian society and some allegations suggest the justice system consistently fails those who are economically and socially disadvantaged, such as those living in the favelas.

Evidence suggests that corruption tends to be higher in countries of lower levels of economic and human development. In Brazil it is the level of economic and development inequality that appears to be a factor contributing to the power differential in society that foments corruption.

But there is hope. Caritas Australia recognises that in order to lift people out of poverty you must increase their capacity to help themselves. Recognising an individual’s inherent dignity and equal rights to justice, freedom and peace is paramount.

In achieving this Caritas Australia is working in partnership with the Movimento de Defesa in the Vila Prudente favela in Sao Paulo. Through the Centro de Cultura, Movimento de Defesa, Caritas are providing youth with an environment in which they can develop self respect, respect for others, a sense of community, dignity and self worth. Art therapy is one tool used to achieve this.

According to the American Art Therapy Association, “art therapy is based on the belief that the creative process of art is both healing and life-enhancing”.

At the Centro de Cultura art therapists use the creative process of painting, drawing or sculpting to assist young people to gain an insight into their own life, their relationships with others, and their interaction with their environment as well as their own emotional state. For those who participate, the creative process itself can be very cathartic while at the same time life affirming. Creating art also provides those participating with an opportunity to gain valuable life skills which can benefit both the community and the individual.
As Pope Paul VI stated in his profound work, Populorum Progressio

‘To be authentic, development must be well rounded; it must foster the development of each individual and of the whole person.’

One of the beneficiaries of this program is Fernandez Peira de Silva, a young 19 year old woh lives in Vila Prudente. To read his story go to www.caritas.org.au

Anna Orchard
Communications Officer, Caritas Australia