CIACAC

Doing What Has to be Done

<p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CIACAC was formed when Neuza Nacimento, a mother of a pre- adolescent boy, became discouraged with the social opportunities available for young people living in the Jardim Beira Mar favela where they live.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; At the time, the neighborhood was going through a particularly insecure and violent period due to the confrontations between rivaling narco- trafficking groups. Baile Funk was the only leisure and cultural event within the favela and Neuza worried this environment was not a healthy one for young people. &nbsp;She wanted them to have the opportunity to see the world outside. &nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In 2001, Neuza put together a group of 8 local children. &nbsp;The purpose of this group was to go on excursions to universities, theaters, beaches: anywhere where the children could get out of the favela and experience some of the treasures of Rio de Janeiro (many of which were unknown and inaccessible to the children, despite having lived there their whole lives). &nbsp;Neuza, who is a writer, says, "I became a writer because I saw someone writing and that showed me that it is possible. &nbsp;I thought that smelling the air of the university would help generate an ambition in the children for something different than what they could see in the favela." The group was called "A Look into Other Things", and it was the seed of what has today become CIACAC.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; CIACAC is now registered in Brazil as a non-governmental organization. &nbsp;It receives a constant flow of local and foreign volunteers, and offers an ongoing program of classes for children and adolescents ranging in topic from Guitar to English to Capoeira. &nbsp;Despite this measurable growth and success, CIACAC is still a very small, very grass-roots organization essentially run by Neuza alone in her own house. She first funded the organization with the money she earned working in houses in the wealthy South Zone of the city (Neuza started in this line of work when she was 8 years old). Ever since her money ran out, CIACAC has been funded by sporadic donations from volunteers. This money is not reliable, and Neuza has been looking for ways to make CIACAC self-sustainable.</p> <p>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; In 2011, a group of 8 volunteers from Spain came to do a month-long project with CIACAC. &nbsp;They stayed in a room at Neuza's neighbor's house, and received breakfast and lunch. &nbsp;Neuza thought, "Why not build an addition to my own house where volunteers can stay? They can pay a small amount for room and board and this will generate some income, enough to keep CIACAC going."&nbsp; With the two donations coming from a former volunteer, Anca Radoi, and from the company Lorivest Gest&atilde;o de Recursos Ltda and, more recently, from a fundraising campaign done with IndieGogo, Neuza was able to being the addition. But it wasn't enough.&nbsp; She was able to add a new level to her house where up to&nbsp; 8 volunteers can sleep, cook and bathe, but the space still lacks most of the necessary furniture.</p>

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