Children in Hunger is a small UK based charity working to combat child poverty in Brazil. One of its long term projects is based in the poor neighbourhood of Morro da Vitoria in the city of Fortaleza, in Brazils poorest north-eastern region.

Working with well over 200 children at any one time, the charity carried out a major monitoring exercise in April/May 2008, involving the majority of the beneficiaries (163) and using the interviewing skills of local Brazilian students.

In summary the findings are:

• more girls than boys are regular project users
• three quarters are of school age and above
• nine in every 10 children using the project deemed it very or quite important to their everyday lives, and judged that their welfare and well-being had benefited significantly
• 87% of the children responding thought the project staff were supportive and helpful

These findings are illustrated in the following three pages.

Clearly, the children were enthusiastic about the project, and especially the reliable availability of good nutritional food, many stating that food at home was often hard to come by or non-existent.

The children made frequent comments as to how much they valued the project and that it was important to their brothers, sisters and families in general. Many remarked how much they enjoyed and learnt at the project, and a few of their comments are peppered throughout this brief monitoring report.

Mark Ereira-Guyer
Development Manager
June 2008

"I dont get meals everyday at home, only by coming to the project is food guaranteed".

163 children responded to the questionnaire. Male respondents: 75 (46%) Female respondents: 83 (50%) Not known: 5 (3%)

Age profile of children using project in Fortaleza

AGES   Under 5 37 6 to 7 42 8 to 9 39 10 to 11 43 From 161 respondents

"It is very important to me and my brothers, and lots of other families".
"The project is like my second home".
"I learn lots of new things".

Children were asked how relevant and important the project was to their everyday lives.

A resounding 96% of children deemed it to be a combination of very and quite important (128 & 29 respondents respectively).

They reported on how it was a good place to be with regular healthy meals, some extra education and help freely available.

"It helps me a great deal".

Children were questioned as to whether they thought they had benefited personally from the project in terms of their welfare and well-being.

136 responded that they thought they benefited a lot, 14 quite a lot , with 13 not saying.

Every child was asked whether they thought the staff at the project supported and helped them.
141 respondents said that they thought they were very helpful and supportive, and made very positive remarks in the comment boxes.

"O projeto super legal"
The project is really cool.