AEHDA

Organizational Vision
Citizen Base Strategy
Results

Organizational Vision

AEHDA seeks to ensure that youth, particularly between the ages of 14 and 18, stay in school. For many poor families in Brazil, short-term economic needs cause them to sacrifice their children's education. Many end up working to supplement family income by becoming street vendors or by selling drugs. The public school system in Brazil has been fighting this problem through programs that offer a minimum income to poor families, thereby encouraging low-income families to continue their children's education. The results have been very weak and evaluations show the programs suffer from a lack of capacity, discontinuity, and insufficient resources to ensure success. AEHDA believes that by developing self-esteem, solidarity, and citizen participation in these youth, they will become a significant asset to Brazilian society. AEHDA is contributing to this process by developing vocational training and incentive programs for school children ages 14 to 18. Their strategy has two components that are as follows: Students are given a financial incentive (as an income generation alternative to working in the streets) to stay in school through a paid internship; Students are given the opportunity to intern with local companies. Many of these internships are paid, offering a further financial incentive. These programs are complimented by other activities, including tracking of student performance and attendance; training in typing, informatics, personal presentation, reception, and sports. AEHDA also provides health assistance to those youngsters participating in their programs.

Citizen Base Strategy

Promoting Initiatives for the Social and Professional Advancement of Low Income Youth AEHDA has had success where the state has failed because they have involved community members, local businesses and corporations, universities, and other civil society organizations in order to provide the infrastructure and human and financial resources necessary to implement the program. AEHDA began by mobilizing local community members (families, schools, CSOs, and professionals) and engaging them in its programs. By developing awareness about the importance of education for these youths, they motivated the local business sector to support paid internships. Since priority for these internships is given to students with the best educational performance — inclusive of school attendance, personal presentation at school, and overall academic effort — there is an added incentive to stay in school and work hard. In addition to offering a payment to the students, the internship also provides professional training (promoting the student's self-esteem and confidence to succeed in the job market) as well as professional mentoring from the staff at the businesses.

Results

• More than 400 organizations and individuals are collaborating with AEHDA programs, providing a total of 780 stipends.
• 1310 youngsters have attended AEHDA activities.
• Through local resourcing strategies, AEHDA has raised R$ 1,700,000.00. Of this, R$1,189,128 covers the stipends; R$42,390.00 pays for health assistance; and R$16,540.00 is designated for dental assistance. The remainder of the income covers the education program and core costs.
• 143 of the students interning with companies were formally hired at the end of their schooling.