![\"\"](\"https:\/\/archived.kidsrights.webkey8.nl\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/09\/screenshot-18.png\")
\n\u201cEducation is the key to breaking the viscous cycle of poverty and violence.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
De impact van Mayra & KidsRights<\/h4>\n
\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0At least 30.000 children supported to combat social exclusion<\/p>\n
Mayra’s Story<\/h2>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/archived.kidsrights.webkey8.nl\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/9\/2019\/09\/mayra-212-560x378.jpg\")
\n\n\n\nMayra grew up in one of the poorest\u00a0favelas\u00a0<\/strong>of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. A favela is a\u00a0Brazilian slum.<\/strong>\u00a0The favela where Mayra grew up in was very violent, with many shootings between drug cartels and the local police, and children are\u00a0forced to join the fight\u00a0<\/strong>or become victims of the violence. This costs thousands of lives every year.<\/p>\nMost residents of the favelas have\u00a0accepted<\/strong>\u00a0the situation as it is, and\u00a0do not believe that change is possible.<\/strong>\u00a0Mayra disagrees. She was 11 years old when the favela become so dangerous that it could only be entered via\u00a0armed checkpoints.\u00a0<\/strong>This resulted in the forced closure of schools and clinics, as teachers and doctors who did not live in the slums were not allowed to enter anymore. Drug trafficking increased in the favela, and so did the presence of the\u00a0heavily armed police<\/strong>. Most children could no longer go to school.<\/p>\nMayra believes that everyone should play a role in improving human rights, especially the rights of children, as they are the future generation. Rich or poor, politician or farmer, man or woman, young or old – it doesn\u2019t matter. We can and must stand up and make a difference for vulnerable children whose rights are neglected and whose lives are at stake. Every child has the right to a safe environment and every child should have the opportunity to go to school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
Mayra grew up in one of the poorest\u00a0favelas\u00a0<\/strong>of Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. A favela is a\u00a0Brazilian slum.<\/strong>\u00a0The favela where Mayra grew up in was very violent, with many shootings between drug cartels and the local police, and children are\u00a0forced to join the fight\u00a0<\/strong>or become victims of the violence. This costs thousands of lives every year.<\/p>\n Most residents of the favelas have\u00a0accepted<\/strong>\u00a0the situation as it is, and\u00a0do not believe that change is possible.<\/strong>\u00a0Mayra disagrees. She was 11 years old when the favela become so dangerous that it could only be entered via\u00a0armed checkpoints.\u00a0<\/strong>This resulted in the forced closure of schools and clinics, as teachers and doctors who did not live in the slums were not allowed to enter anymore. Drug trafficking increased in the favela, and so did the presence of the\u00a0heavily armed police<\/strong>. Most children could no longer go to school.<\/p>\n Mayra believes that everyone should play a role in improving human rights, especially the rights of children, as they are the future generation. Rich or poor, politician or farmer, man or woman, young or old – it doesn\u2019t matter. We can and must stand up and make a difference for vulnerable children whose rights are neglected and whose lives are at stake. Every child has the right to a safe environment and every child should have the opportunity to go to school.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n