October 12 was Brazilian Children Day, which means a lot of children waiting for receiving gifts and toys!!!

But, in a society that has a great social gap, at same time that we have children that receive gifts, there are children that can´t even stop to work, just for feed themselves.

Dream with toys, castles and fairies? Alexandra, 10, Reginaldo, 12, Wanderson, 13 e Josilene, 17 anos, that live on Alemão slum, on Rio de Janeiro, can´t think on these things. They have a very adult desire: to get a home for their little family: their mother, Sandra Regina da Silva, and their aunt, Suely da Silva. They are both handicapped, and can´t move themselves. To survive is on tha backs of the little four brothers. They created an interesting job for them, with solidarity of people around: as the community doesn´t has a street cleaning service, they clean the streets each day before going to school, and then receive a payment from neighbours.


Wanderson, Reginaldo, Alexandra e Josilene: early adults

Without too much help, they try to fight for their dreams. "It´s easy to say to a children that hás to study... But who gives really an opportunity?" says Suely.

On the same community, Marcos Sales and Leidiane de Souza, nine years old, are more lucky. As they ilve inside a family with more resources, can expect anxiously for a good Children´s Day. Marco choose a electronic toy and Leidiane wants a doll.


Leidiane (E) shares her toys with friends

Good news are that inside such a poor community, early children learn how to be solidary. All children inside well-situated families always choose toys that they don´t want anymore to give to poorest children. For instance, Marcos, as soon received a new cycle gave the oldest to the son of a father´s friend. His mother, Arli Ribeiro Raimundo, says that his son is very compassionate: "When Marcos hear about children that never receive gifts, or see on TV something sad happening with them, he got his eyes full of tears".

Adapted from www.vivafavela.com.br

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