FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS - HCS
VOLUNTEERS of Faith...WORKING TOGETHER
TO SAVE THE STREET CHILDREN
Updated:Saturday, April 12, 2008
The Need
What is the problem with street children in Brazil?
What does the future hold for a street child?
Are there really children dying on the streets of
Brazil?
How can a society let their children die on the
streets?
What about the other thousands of children living on
the streets?
HCS's Vision
With children in need all over the world, why did Hope for
the Children of the Street - HCS choose Brazil ?
What does Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS
offer?
HCS's Program
Is the program open to both boys and girls?
What is the age of admission?
How are the students prepared for leaving the HCS
Baptist Boys Home?
What happens after they leave?
How are the boys
doing who have left the program?
What is the capacity of the program?
HCS's Children
Where do the children come from?
Where do the children live?
What do the children do for fun?
Hope for the Children of the
Street - HCS Information
Who founded the HCS Baptist Boys Home?
How is Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS
financed?
Get involved with HCS
Can I Help in the USA or Brazil?
Where do I send my contribution?
Brazil's street children have been referred to as the "throwaways" of society. Hear in our city, they are called most often after the glue they huff, "shada cola" because they smell like the glue . These children have chosen the streets because of intolerable living situations at home. This usually includes abuse from one of the parents or another family member. Many, we have met have lived on the streets for years, sleeping on cold, dirty concrete, or in vacant lots and under bridges . These children are abused, forgotten and alone with no one to depend upon for their daily needs but themselves. Just coping with their hopeless situation proves unbearable, but they also must live with memories of the abuse and tragedy that initially forced them to the streets. They beg, steal, or sell their bodies just to survive. Most of them use drugs and inhalants to escape their misery.
What does the future hold for a street child?
-
Malnourishment which can lead to death.
-
Stabbings by street rivals
-
Jail with hardened criminals
-
Brain damage from huffing glue & drug use
-
AIDS and other fatal diseases.
Chances of survival are small. Even if they escape all these tragedies, they may get shot while committing crimes or become a victim of vigilante bullets. If they live past 25 on the street, for most all hope is lost.
Are there really children dying on the streets of Brazil?
The situation is truly unbelievable. People living in the United States have no concept, but it has been well-documented and reported by organizations like Unicef and printed in magazines like Time. In 1989 when Jack made his first trip to Brazil he learned that approximately 1200 children have been murdered on the street of Brazil . This has been well documented by many humanitarian aid organizations, and news agencies. Today in the area where Jack and Penny live, children are still being shot because they are seen as a bothersome nuisance to business owners. This is the reason Jack & Penny established Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS to address this tragedy.
How can a society let their children die on the streets?
The problem is so complex and immense that the Brazilian society does not really believe it can be solved. They have largely thrown up their hands to the problem. In the eight years that we have been working with these children, we have seen many new programs start up, help for a short time, and then close their doors. We at HCS understand that this work is really difficult, there are no quick fixes. As Christians first, we believe that love, respect and commitment to see it through can make a difference. We understand that we will not be able to solve this problem for Brazilians, but we can help them learn about what has worked for us, and then help them do the same. The HCS Boys home is the first of it's kind in this area. It is making a difference to the boys who live there, and helping to change the attitude toward street children in our community. They see that it works. Children are being rescued and shown love and a new life one-by-one. It is our goal for the Brazilians to take ownership of this project. We then hope to construct and open as many more homes for street children as God allows. Our commitment is sincere, with your help we will be able to continue give HOPE to the children of the street.
What about the other thousands of children living on the streets?
Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS can only do so much. We trust, however, our Boys home will be a model for others to follow. We know that street children can be redeemed with love, compassion and education to become productive, fulfilled members of society. We pray that as we continue, attitudes and opinions of prominent Brazilian leaders towards the plight of street children will change as they are exposed to our program. We are, therefore, optimistic about our ability to make the world a better place for thousands of children far beyond the number we can care for directly. We stand firm in the belief that if even one child's life is saved as the result of our efforts, it has all been worthwhile.
In 1989, while on his first mission trip, Jack was called by God to minister in Brazil. Later, one Saturday morning, God used a TV special on street children in Sao Paulo to help guide both Jack and Penny into the work He had prepared for them. They told us "After watching the children suffering at the hands of the authorities, we were both crying ... we both agreed that we had to do something! Although we understand that children are neglected and abused in virtually every corner of the globe, Brazil is the only country where they have being exterminated like animals simply for being considered a nuisance.
Hope! Jack and Penny, the founders along with the board of Directors and staff of Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS are committed to giving these children a safe, secure and happy childhood. Each child is given the opportunity to grow and learn to become self-supporting and a contributing member of society. To achieve this objective, the HCS Baptist Boys Home was established in Manacapuru in 2000.
Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS provides a volunteer built facility where the children receive love, attention, guidance and respect. It is located on the Manacapuru river, and includes two dormitories, a school, bathhouse, recreation building and kitchen/cafeteria. We are a fully residential program offering a home to children who have nowhere to live. Our full-time staff of dedicated individuals includes a Drug/alcohol counselor, teacher, pastor, house parents, cook and support personnel. They work very hard to anticipate and satisfy all of the children's needs. We are presently looking for qualified individuals to fill the positions of, Doctor, nurse, psychologist, social worker, guidance counselor, music teacher and physical education instructor.
What do the children do for fun?
When they are not in school, many options for recreation exist. Our HCS Boys home is located on a beautiful river. Boys enjoy swimming, fishing, and exploring the many islands and inlets close to the camp. On top of the property there is a soccer field. At night, boys can play ping pong, foosball, dominoes, or watch TV in the new recreation building. HCS has a 16 meter boat and often takes the boys up-river on camping fishing and discovery trips. In addition to preparing the children for successful futures, our goal is that each child may enjoy a happy childhood filled with rich and memorable experiences.
How are the students prepared for leaving?
When the boys first come to us, most can not read. Their education starts at the beginning with the A,B,C's and continues as long as the boy stays with us. Every boy learns how to read, write, studies Portuguese, math, Brazilian history, and science. Our HCS school is a simple one but we have made a firm commitment to continually improve our educational program. The boys really are proud when they can stand up in church and read their bible, and sing the songs in the hymnal.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING : YOU CAN HELP WITH THIS IMPORTANT NEED
The HCS training facility, at this point, is just a dream. As God provides, we will initiate a vocational training program specialty tailored to individual interests of the boys and the needs of the marketplace. Home construction, Boat building, farming, fishing, mechanics, computer sciences/repair, electronics , and carpentry are only a few of the courses we would like to offer. In their last year, the youngsters will participate in internships in the city. They earn money (part of which is put into a savings account in their name) and learn more about the skills of working in the competitive marketplace. Involvement in a local church is a must and will established a point of reference on the outside.
What happens after they leave?
Most boys end up working in a normal type of job. Here in our area fishing, lumber harvest, or security guard jobs are plentiful. We would love to raise a generation of rocket scientist, or doctors, but most boys just want to get married and raise a family and get on with their life. Our program is a voluntary one, and many boys decide to leave after a couple of years. We help them to find a job and help with a basic set of household furnishings, and a complete set of tools for the trade they learned.
How are the boys doing who have left the program?
With few exceptions, the graduates are working, attending church, and making a lasting impression on those around them with their character and manners.
We pray a few more will decide to follow the road less traveled and dedicate their lives to helping other street boys. "Nobody knows better than us what it is like to be hungry and suffer on the streets. Who is more qualified than us to understand their needs and help them?" comments Ivan the HCS Baptist Boys Home's Big Brother, and a former street youth.
Is the program open to both boys and girls?
At present, No only boys.
It is a major goal of HCS to soon be able to change the present Boys Home into a home for girls. Once open we will accept girls into the program between the ages of 8 and 18. From a very early age the girls often get involved in prostitution. Because of the extreme challenges and disappointments involved in working with them, almost no other programs exist for girls involved in this lifestyle. This is a work that we know God is already placing on someone's heart to help us accomplish this desperately needed home.
The HCS BOYS Home receives boys between the ages of 8 and 15.
Where do the children come from?
Most are found on the street by Pr. Jack and Penny, or HCS staff members while they are in the city. Some are sent to us by the youth authorities after an evaluation by municipal state social workers. Others are referred by concerned individuals or churches. Many hear about us on their own and appear on our shore seeking help. All of the children living with us obtain written authorization from their legal guardian or appointed youth authorities.
What is the capacity of the program?
The present HCS Boys Home, has beds for only 20 boys. With the completion of two more additional dormitories and bath houses we will increase our capacity to 50. We are looking at a new island upriver that would allow us to expand the new facility to helping up to 200 boys. You can help make this a reality.
Who founded HCS and the Baptist Boys Home?
Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS and the Boys home was founded in 1999 by Pr. Jack an Penny Oyler. Both Jack & Penny brought with them the life experience of what hopelessness truly feels like. They are both recovering alcoholics and drug addicts, with over twenty years of sobriety each. Jack answered God's call to fulltime Christian service on Nov. 17th 1989 while on his first mission trip in Brazil. He had been saved for only 5 years. While living in the states he was involved in prison ministry, and taught Sunday school at Oakley Correctional facility for 7 years. He and Penny both taught in their church. In 1986 Penny started training to be an alcohol/drug consular for Mississippi Baptist Chemical Dependency Center, in Jackson Ms. In early 1990's she became the program manager for the adolescent/young adult recovery program. First Baptist Church of Raymond ordained and sent them as missionaries to Brazil in 1998. Jack was ordained and licensed as a minister of the Gospel of Christ in 2000 upon returning to the USA on their first furlough.
How is Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS financed?
Jack and Penny for most part, started HCS on their own money. Jack was a home builder and his last job paid for their move to Brazil. They left for Brazil with only $800.00 a month support. This was donated by their home church members as living expenses. Jack and Penny have pored their heart and sweat into this work and the dividends are now paying off in children's lives. Today, although support has grown, financing is dependent on a relatively small number of individuals intimately involved in the life HCS and it's projects. Almost all key supporters have visited the HCS Boys Home at least once.
Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS is always seeking more partners to become involved in and support the work. The Hope for the Children of the Street - HCS Board of Directors has committed to paying for all of the public relations and administrative costs themselves to insure that 100% of all donated funds go directly to helping the children in Brazil.
Please Join with us in this important new work. We really need your prayers and your financial support.
Yes, HCS has several trips each year. You can lead a volunteer team or join an existing one.
Just click on
link at the left.
Can I Help in the USA or Brasil?
Most defiantly! We need several committed individuals to help us with several positions stateside, and in Brazil at the HCS Boys Home.
Just click
on the
link at left for more information on how you can help.
|
Where do I
send my Donation? As a 501(c)(3) non-profit religious charity. All contributions are tax deductible.
|