Bringing Mobile School to Brazil: Strengthening child rights and empowering communities
A personal account from our head of delegations and programmes, Julia Pimenta, as she travelled with Street Smart to implement the first Mobile School in Brazil…
For the first time, I had the incredible opportunity to travel with Street Smart to implement the first Mobile School in Brazil. It was even more special that the selected delivery partner was O Pequeno Nazareno, a long-term Street Child United partner. This initiative marked a significant moment in our ongoing efforts to provide education and support to street-connected children, while strengthening the collaboration between Street Smart and SCU.
Our journey began with a 7-day workshop designed to equip trainers with the knowledge and skills to make a lasting impact. The focus areas of the training were child rights, education, and ludic therapy – all crucial components when working with vulnerable children. These sessions were not just theoretical; they were deeply interactive, fostering an environment where trainers could share their experiences and challenges, and learn practical approaches to bring about real change.
One of the key elements of this training was ensuring that all trainers understood the legal and moral framework surrounding children’s rights. These rights are enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), but in many parts of the world, including Brazil, children living on the streets are often left behind, deprived of access to education and protection.
During the workshop, we explored practical ways to integrate child rights into everyday activities and how education can be used as a tool to uplift and protect these vulnerable youth. We also discussed the importance of fostering environments where children feel safe to express themselves. In line with SCU’s broader mission, we stressed that every interaction with a child should affirm their right to dignity and respect. This approach aligns with our values of empowering children to know their rights, demand them, and, most importantly, experience them through actions taken by those responsible for their care.
By the end of the workshop, the trainers were not only well-versed in child rights advocacy but also eager to implement what they had learned. The most rewarding moment came when we took the Mobile School to the streets for the first time. Seeing the children interact with the Mobile School’s creative and dynamic learning modules was a reminder that education can be a powerful tool for upholding rights and building a future.
The children were captivated by the learning materials, which weren’t just about providing education but ensuring that the content reflected their rights—such as the right to a safe space, the right to play, and the right to learn. Through interactive games and educational exercises, we provided a real-world application of the principles we’d focused on during the workshop.
The implementation of Mobile School in Brazil was not only a chance to enhance SCU’s long-standing partnership with O Pequeno Nazareno, but it also represented a tangible step toward making child rights a lived reality for the children involved. We are now better equipped to advocate for these children, and this partnership has shown how effective collaboration can be when it is grounded in rights-based approaches.
This initiative was a critical step in showing how child rights advocacy can be integrated into everyday education practices, and it reaffirmed our belief in the transformative power of partnerships. Moving forward, we hope to continue building on this momentum—ensuring that every child we reach has access to their basic rights, while equipping communities and organisations to be their champions.
As I reflect on the success of this experience, I am hopeful for what lies ahead. The partnership between SCU, Mobile School, and O Pequeno Nazareno has laid a strong foundation for further advocacy and innovation in our programming, all centred on the core belief that every child deserves the chance to thrive, free from the obstacles that too often hold them back.
