For many youth, especially afro-Brazilian and LGBTIQ+, discrimination is a daily reality. These youth feel unsafe on the streets, are confronted with racial profiling by the police and with unequal opportunities when looking for work. There is also a high level of unemployment among the youth, making them vulnerable for illegal markets, exploitation, drug use and crime. However, these youth are bursting with talent and have the potential to actively contribute to the human, economic and social development of their country, if only they are given the necessary opportunities to do so.
KIYO and Se Essa Rua Fosse Minha (SER), which translates as ‘If this were education my street’, have been partners since 2017. KIYO and SER learn from each other’s work with youth, as well as from other KIYO partners through KIYO’s overall programme. In the DGD 2022-2026 programme, KIYO and SER will focus together on:
- Providing a safe space for youth who face discrimination on a daily basis that will support them to stand up for their rights.
- Guiding social circus groups in using social circus with youth as a means to develop important life skills such as self-expression, to trigger debates around relevant social themes such as gender-based inequalities and racism, and to raise awareness on these issues with the broader public through art.
- Supporting schools in developing an inclusive school culture where children’s rights are respected and where students find sufficient opportunities to develop themselves and actively participate in shaping their school environment
