Regions: Africa   Asia   Latin America


Name of Organization: Instituto de Capacitação Comunitária – (ICC)

Country: Brazil

Project Title: "Tirando as Pedras do Caminho" (Removing Bricks from the Path)

Project Timeframe: 12 Months

Location of Project: Villa São Luís in Maranhão

Budget Amount: $75,408

NGO contact and website:
Mr. Elizeu Lira
Rua Centauros 1-B Jardim Colégio
Embu das Artes, 06815-440
Sao Paulo, SP Brazil
Northeast Office: Rua 90 Quadra 77, Casa 12, Vinhais, 65074-340 São Luis, MA, Brazil
Office: 55-98 236 0177, 55 98 2361431
Email: iccma@hotmail.com

Project's Primary Objective: Objective # 2 - Strengthening Formal and Informal Educational System

Description of Organization: Instituto de Capacitação Comunitária (ICC) is a non-profit organization founded in 1998 that carries activities in various states in Brazil managed through its headquarter in São Paulo and its two regional offices, one in the states of Pernambuco and the other one in Maranhão – the head office for the Northeast Region of Brazil. ICC has developed several projects by providing trainings to develop entrepreneurship skill and access to credit for 140 families. It has created and registered the entrepreneur community logo, COISANOSSA, to aggregate the social value to their products. Additionally, 9000 workers in 25 municipalities were professionally re-qualified to enter the formal market. Being geographically located close to a quarry in Maranhão, ICC experienced the need to expand its objectives to reduce child labor and thus promoted the first round of debates in the state.ICC has the following objectives: to support initiatives focused on the development and exercise of citizenship; to develop activities that promote integration among people, movements, and institutions; and to design and carry out plans, programs, and projects committed to changing the social reality of low-income populations. Formerly, the organization has had several agreements with both the private and public sector to implement projects, such as PETROBRAS, International Labor Organization and Alcoa Institute.

Description of Project funded by CIRCLE: Through the Tirando as Pedras do Caminho initiative, ICC seeks to reduce the number of children working in the quarry business at the Villa São Luís in Maranhão. ICC's project will benefit directly a total of 300 children between the ages of 8 and 16 years and 2,500 family members indirectly. The project will increase enrollment of children in the educational system as well as provide professional training such as ICT and entrepreneurship (ecotourism, recycling, art crafts and agribusiness). Initially, an educational and labor needs assessment will be done targeting children working in the quarry. Additionally, ICC will provide educational reinforcement and cultural and recreational activities. To carry out these activities, an Educational Center will be built to provide the adequate space and infrastructure for the children, not presently available within the community. ICC will use a participatory approach to implement the project engaging the community at all stages. Additionally it will do public awareness targeting parents, local authorities and civil society about the hazards of child labor and the relevance of education. As a minor activity, ICC will also seek job opportunities for the parents to help them move into the formal and less hazardous market, increasing family-income and create alternatives for children to attend school. A network will be established to advocate for children's rights, and to foster new attitudes at the local level.

Project Targets (Common Indicators):
Enrollment: 30 children
Persistence: 300 children
Transition: 300 children
Completion: 25 children