Assis – Boys Soccer Outreach
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: 2009 Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 100+ (Ages 6-15 years) Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Approach: Through the vehicle of sport our coaches and volunteers use God’s Word to mentor these young people and develop in them Christian character traits that will serve
Assis – Girls Soccer Outreach
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: October 2010 Local Church Partner: Independent Presbyterian Church Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 50-60 Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Interesting tidbits: Open Arms girls play a popular version of soccer called “Futsal.” It is played on a basketball court with a heavier, low-bounce
Assis III Community
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: August 2010 Local Church Partner: Independent Presbyterian Church Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 50-60 Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Interesting tidbits: Eduardo grew up in this neighborhood as a gang member. He returned here several years after leaving a juvenile detention center to
Colinas Park Community
Assis, São Paulo – Brazil Project started: May 2010 Local Church Partner: A partnership of Baptist and Presbyterian Churches Geographic setting: Urban Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 100+ Economy: Mix of agricultural and manufacturing Challenges: Poverty, drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Interesting tidbits: This neighborhood became the largest slum in the city of Assis when a government housing project was completed
Sarita Romeiro
Nova Aquidauana Community
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul – Brasil Project started: January 2010 Local Church Partner: UNIEDAS (Network of Indigenous Churches), Pastor Gino Urban Mission: Mixture of Brazilian and Indigenous Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 60-70 Economy: Cattle, Tourism, Lumber Challenges: Poverty, alcohol addiction, child abandonment, prostitution Interesting tidbit: Aquidauana sits at the beginning of one of the world’s largest wetlands, the Pantanal, which straddles
Limão Verde (Green Lemon) Indian Reservation
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul Brasil Project started: In 2013 as a result of Sarita’s work in a neighboring reservation. Local Church Partner: UNIEDAS (Network of Indigenous Churches) Tribal Group: Terena Indians Language: Portuguese & Terena Children participating per week: 60-70 Economy: Small-scale farming Challenges: Alcohol addiction, poverty, unemployment, violence, conflict with ranchers Interesting tidbits: Learn to say “Great God” in Terena – Hanaiti
Lagoinha (Little Lake) Indian Reservation
Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul Brasil Project started: In 2012 with the assistance of a team from Mclean Bible Church. Local Church Partner: UNIEDAS (Network of Indigenous Churches) Tribal Group: Terena Indians Language: Portuguese & Terena Children participating per week: 60-70 Economy: Small-scale farming Challenges: Alcohol addiction, poverty, unemployment, violence, conflict with ranchers Interesting tidbit: Learn to say “Great God” in Terena – Hanaiti
Comunidade Jardim Floresta (Forest Garden)
Florestópolis, Parana – Brazil Project started: October 2008 Local Church Partner: Independent Presbyterian Church International Church Partner: The Bridge Community Church, Morrisville, NC Geographic setting: Slum neighborhood in Rural Town Language: Portuguese Children participating per week: 50-60 Economy: Sugar cane harvesting and processing Challenges: Drug traffic, addiction, violence, high male incarceration Interesting tidbits: Open Arms was invited to provide chaplain services to the local
