Support for KOINONIA's 2007-2009 Triennial Plan, Brazil

Church World Service and
Ecumenical Presence and Service
(Presenca Ecumenica e Servico -- KOINONIA)

CWS is helping Brazilian partner KOINONIA as it implements its 2007-2009 Triennial Plan to promote and defend the human and cultural rights of Afro-Brazilians; promote dialogue, non-violence, and peacebuilding; defend workers' rights; and provide assistance and education on HIV/AIDS.

KOINONIA works with some 20,000 people, including urban and rural Afro-Brazilian communities, rural workers--especially youth, in the northeast and southeast regions of the country; middle-level church leaders, especially women and youth; and grassroots educators in other parts of the country.

Through the KOINONIA program, Afro-Brazilian rural and urban communities are working to defend their cultural, religious, and land rights. KOINONIA provides education within religious communities to help eradicate the stigma and discrimination suffered by people affected by HIV/AIDS. The program prioritizes work with youth and women.

KOINONIA is responding to violations of the rights of rural workers and small-scale farmers in Bahia, Pernambuco, and Paraiba states. The two basic components of the program are 1) education and activities for rural youth who face discrimination, lack of access to land and government agricultural programs, and vulnerability to the drug trade; and 2) development of a democratic culture, sustainable development, and defense of the rights of small farmers and rural works who are caught between police actions and the violence of drug dealers.

Your support for Church World Service helps make this program possible.

Updated 4/4/2008

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