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Oxfam in Brazil
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Collecting water at Vila Irme
Dulce, a new settlement |
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Photo: Daniel Berinson/Oxfam
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Brazil is rich in natural resources and is the world’s tenth-richest
economy, but distribution of wealth is extremely unequal. One-third
of the population, 59 million people, live in poverty. Women, children,
minority groups, and indigenous people tend to be the poorest.
Because of these inequalities, Oxfam puts particular emphasis on
training individuals and supporting groups that speak up for the
disadvantaged.
Oxfam’s programme includes:
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Helping people in rural and urban areas to influence government
policies, ensuring their lands and livelihoods are protected.
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Assisting indigenous communities in their attempts to achieve
demarcation of their lands. This can protect them and their
environment from the effects of ill-managed mining and logging
operations.
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Working with city-based groups who help street
kids living in appalling conditions.
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Enabling small-scale producers to market
their goods through Fair Trade initiatives.
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Giving Brazilian organisations training in fundraising and
campaigning skills.
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Providing emergency support in times of drought and flooding.
Oxfam has been funding the use of cost-effective
technology to preserve water supplies and the creation
of seed-banks to help people survive prolonged droughts.
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