Located in the southern zone ( zona sul ) of the city, between
The neighborhoods of ipanema, leblon and sao conrado. These are some of the wealthiest places in all of brazil. Rocinha is considered the largest favela , ( hillside slum ) in latin america.

The favela is divided into 17 districts ( bairro barcelos, rua 1, rua 1, rua 2, rua 3, rua 4, cachopa, ropa suja, vila verde, macega, 199, vila cruzado, laborioux, boiadeiro, dioneia, cidade nova, Valao e cesario ). Rocinha was officially classified as part of Rio de janeiro on the 18th of june 1993. It has, in reality, existed as a population center since the abolition of slavery at the end of the 19th century, but was not recognized by the muncipality
Until a bit more than 10 years ago.

The city's official inclusion of Rocinha has not, however, led to an improvement in the apalling lack of services available to residents of the community. Virtually no schools. No health clinics, mail delivery, garbage pickup, and on and on ........ The lack of those basic services taken for granted by the rest of society inevitably contributes to the very poor standard of living endured by those living in Rocinha.

According to the resident's association, the current population of Rocinha is 300,000; with around 50,000 chlidren under the age of 6. More than half the population of Rocinha is under the age of 16, a senior citizen, or a family headed by a single parent. All face obstacles to leading normal lives simply due to the location of where they live. For example, most businesses outside the favela refuse to make deliveries inside Rocinha. They do not face danger entering the community. They simply don't wish to mix with the "riff raff", in the favela. 95 percent of those living here are hard-working individuals who dream only of a better life. It's a daily swim upriver .

There are a handful of day care centers to care for the 50,000 children of working parents here. Mothers who cannot afford or do not wish to leave their children in a filthy place , are forced to lock their children in the house whlie they work. This causes traumatic harm to these children. The number of facilities in the community is woefully inadequate and many are filthtraps. A good number don't even allow the parents to come inside when they pick up their children. Imgine your child in a place like that!

There are no parks or other public spaces for children to play in safety, with dignity that is the right of every human being. The unemployment rate is high, and this affects many families in the community. Those who are employed generally work for the minimum wage of roughly $175 monthly. Rio is not an inexpensive city . The cost of living is beginning to hover close to the realm of some wealthy nations. Imagine trying to live on $175 a month!

Women, who head a large number of families alone, shoulder a great proportion of this burden alone. Outside the community, day care can cost up to twice one's monthly salary. Inside Rocinha, the going rate is 150 Reais ($70). But many working parents simply cannot afford anything close to that.

With your help, we provide a safe, clean loving loving loving environment for children who would not, otherwise, have access to this level of treatment. These children are the future
Of brazil, and we treat them accordingly. The parents pay what they are able. Those without the capacity, pay nothing. No parent with an interest in the well being of their child is turned away. Our job in the community is the provision of a secure environment for parents to leave their children so they can concentrate on work with peace of mind. These are the building
Blocks of a better future for the citizens of this beautiful
Place. Come and visit us and see for yourself. Visitors from the outside world come to Rocinha on a daily basis, and face no danger in doing so. Join us and see!!!