Purpose

BRAYCE provides opportunities for cultural exchange and leadership training for marginalized and underprivileged young people from the State of Rio de Janeiro. By selecting youngsters already in leadership training programs, this exchange will further develop and enhance the skills necessary for them to become role models, effective leaders and inspired members of their communities.

This goal is being realized by offering hands-on life and leadership skill training at Camp Hazen YMCA in Chester, Connecticut, one of the most prestigious youth camps in the United States. The young leaders return to specific responsibilities and projects in their own communities. Since 2008, American youngsters have had the opportunity of a Brazilian experience with active participation in community projects, sports, social and environmental studies programs. As the next generations potential leaders and decision makers in their communities, this experience will enable them to:

• Become role models and effective leaders
• Develop cultural understanding 
• Forge life-long, cross-community friendships
• Gain a perspective and insight of life in other countries
• Become inspired members of their communities

The ultimate vision for BRAYCE is to expand the youth cultural exchange model to facilitate similar programs elsewhere in Brazil. BRAYCE is the organizing and funding institution linking highly esteemed youth training centers in Brazil and the United States.

Copyright: Jeff Greenberg

The Challenge in Rio de Janeiro

In Rio de Janeiro, 40% of the population lives below the poverty level.  The majority resides in favelas (slums) of which it is estimated that there are approximately 650 in greater Rio.  Most favalas have poor, or no proper water supply, sanitation or public transport.  The shacks are built of flimsy materials on hillsides where frequent mudslides in the rainy season injure and kill people.  This marginalized group is denied the most basic human rights and is victim to police violence and the terror of drug gangs.  Child labor and sexual exploitation prevail alongside diseases such as leprosy, tuberculosis and Aids.  Hunger is widespread, healthcare minimal and survival activities supersede schooling.  In addition, drug lords in the favelas use young children to defend their territory and conduct their business by carrying guns or acting as runners and lookouts.

         Copyright: IBISS                                                         Copyright: IBISS

In 1985, humanitarian Dr. Nanko van Buuren, a psychiatrist with the World Health Organization (WHO), was sent to Rio to report on the   brutal assassination of street children by police.  Devastated by what he had witnessed, Dr. van Buuren filed his report having determined to return  to Rio and dedicate his life to improving the lives of young people in the favelas. In 1987, he founded IBISS (Brazilian Institute of Innovation in Social Health) to rescue youngsters from exploitation from drug lords where they pursued a life of crime, running wild, dropping out of school and posing a threat to the peace-abiding members of their community.  Since then, through sports, cultural activities and social education he has enticed hundreds of youngsters away from the gangs to participate in community projects and youth programs and to restart their school careers. 

                                    Copyright: IBISS

IBISS, originally funded by Dr. van Buuren's family and friends in Holland, is now recognized internationally receiving financial support from eminent world organizations including the World Bank, World Health Organization, UNICEF, Save the Children, Amnesty International, the Brazilian Federal Government, the Rio de Janeiro State government and the city of Rios Mayors Office. Currently IBISS provides funding, construction materials and medical supplies for projects in over 40 favelas. Important projects include housing, water supply, sanitation, healthcare, education and other community initiatives including education, music, drama and sports. Some of these projects in Rio are being gradually accepted and financed by local government.   In addition, the IBISS program Jovem Liderancas (Young Leaders) identifies individuals showing motivation and aptitude for leadership training to participate in and manage these community projects. Many young people from the program have earned places in high schools and local universities. One received a full scholarship to Harvard and earned his degree in 2006.

Click here to view Ricardo Zerrenner's breathtaking photographs of Rio de Janeiro  

The History of BRAYCE

We were introduced to Dr. Van Buuren in January 2005 and were impressed to learn of his work in the favelas.  We considered if it might be possible to identify young leaders from his Jovem Liderancas Program to participate in leadership programs in the United States to enhance the community work they were currently involved in.  The concept of BRAYCE (Brazilian and American Youth Cultural Exchange) had its defining moment in the alleyways of Terra Encantada (Enchanted Earth) when, at the invitation of Dr. van Buuren, we toured the favela.  We were there to observe conditions in this shantytown and to learn about one mans personal commitment to improving human rights by offering opportunities and hope to a marginalized community.  We were invited because of our expressed desire to find a way to help and make a difference to the plight of youngsters in the favelas.  Our dedication to this cause is based on the fact that the Calder family has a 40-year association with Brazil, including a daughter born in Rio and culminating in the marriage of our son to a Carioca (native born resident of Rio).

        Copyright: IBISS                                                          Copyright: IBISS

  

Terra Encantada is home to six thousand poor people, two thousand of them children. Life for the community of Terra Encantada in greater Rio de Janeiro is no different from the urban favelas described above although the terrain is flat, bordered on the west by a fetid, sluggish stream incongruously named Rio Flores (River of Flowers) filled with rotting garbage and debris. The eastern boundary is a high, crumbling concrete wall directly under the towering power lines that feed the northeastern sections of the State of Rio de Janeiro.  Forced to leave urban favelas owing to severe overcrowding problems the inhabitants discovered an abandoned site of a former factory building and made it their home.   When people do not have jobs or economic opportunities poverty is inevitable.  When children do not have safe, nurturing places to go after school, they are more likely to get involved in risky, dangerous, or even criminal activities.  Unless someone or some entity intercedes and endeavors to change conditions the situation can only worsen and for the younger generation particularly, there is no hope for the future. 

Copyright: IBISS

Nanko and his young project manager, Sandro, escorted us along alleys and streets with no names.  At one large open space, dotted with high columns from the derelict factory, Sandro explained the plan to restore the roof and create a large indoor community center.  Further on a small building was being completely renovated to become a cafeteria, meeting and school room, complete with a well equipped kitchen to feed one hundred young children with breakfast before they started on their daily walk to school, nearly a mile away.  Nanko's funding was providing materials and the favela residents were doing the work, with Sandro in charge.

Nanko rescued Sandro at 19 from a drug gang where he was a soldier, a lookout, drug runner and an accomplished small arms brigand. After relinquishing this life of violence and attending Nankos Soldados Nunca Mas (Soldiers Never More) training program, Sandro took a paid role as a project manager in Terra Encantada. He talked enthusiastically about his interest in technology and his desire to become a computer expert.  At 24 he was back in school in eighth grade, fiercely determined to complete his schooling and to somehow find a way to acquire the necessary technical training.  We wondered how we might contribute to the IBISS Organization. 

The answer became clear driving back to the city.  As a director of Camp Hazen YMCA in Chester, Connecticut, for several years Richard Calder immediately recognized the synergy between the objectives of IBISS and the Camps youth leadership program.  Subsequently, the idea developed with Nanko to enhance the IBISS Jovem Liderancas program by introducing a cultural exchange between our respective organizations.  BRAYCE was conceived. Subsequently, Nanko selected two young leaders from Terra Encantada and fundraising began in the United States to support the initiative.

BRAYCE is in partnership with Camp Hazen in Connecticut, IBISS in Rio and other organizations in Paraty to continue to bring underprivileged young leaders to Connecticut for life and leadership skills training.  These young leaders are selected by our Brazilian partners on the basis of their interests, strengths and desire to work with children. Already in paid leadership and project roles in Rio and Paraty, they worked alongside other potential counselors at Camp Hazen learning key project and camp leadership skills.  All have enthusiastically engaged in all the training activities. Camp staff, young campers and their peer group of trainees embraced the youngsters and all have graduated with flying colors from the program. On returning to Rio they always receive a rapturous homecoming welcome from family and friends in addition to representatives from BRAYCE and IBISS.  BRAYCEs intention is to continue to build cadres of young leaders who, over the coming years, will make a significant difference in their respective communities.

The Calder family has had a strong association with Brazil since 1964 which led to the formation of BRAYCE in 2005. Camp Hazen YMCA in Chester, Connecticut, is a renowned, independent Youth Leadership Training Center, located on beautiful Cedar Lake and surrounded by 60 acres of forest. Two levels of Life and Leadership training are offered to 15 to 18 year olds who attend for either the one month program or the entire summer. In addition to Leadership training there are programs in Outdoor Pursuits, Land Sports, Creative Pursuits, Water Sports, and Adventure Trips. These programs complement the training programs in Rio de Janeiro.

The Brazilian organizations associated with BRAYCE for this program; IBISS, Associacao Casa Azul, the YMCA Rio and Hedge Social together with Camp Hazen all share a common philosophy of respect for human rights, building a healthier society and investing in youth.

Our nation will succeed or fail to the degree that all of us -- citizens and businesses alike -- are active participants in building strong, sustainable and enriching communities -- Arnold Hiatt. ex CEO StrideRite