UPDATE FROM UNIVIDA, BRAZIL

There has been a dramatic decrease in COVID cases in Fortaleza in the last two months and the vaccination process has been steadily moving forward. The pressure on hospitals and particularly intensive care units has been reduced.

However, the Delta variant is arriving in Fortaleza and the situation is being monitored by authorities. We know that The University of Life will face more COVID related challenges but we are moving forward. The state schools have been authorized to begin classes in person with years 2-4 at 30% capacity, year 5 & 6 at 50% capacity and year 7-9, at 100%. Despite this authorization, the ability of the system to deliver remains to be seen.

With teachers getting priority in the vaccination rollout, we too are planning on receiving students into the project on a regular basis. Our objectives will be to re-establish relationships with all our students and prepare them for a full return to the classroom learning in 2022.

Students have been out of school for almost 2 years. We will be creating a special timetable for this period to help children adjust to their return both to public school and the project. Online activities will continue for all classes and students will be able to attend activities at the project twice a week.

We are all looking forward to being face to face again. Thank you for your support.

Ruth

Pedro’s Story

We have 262 students registered with us this September. Most are returning students but all of our year 2, 3 & 4 students are new. Pedro is one of them.

Pedro is 9 years old and yet to discover what The University of Life is like. He doesn’t know what a school timetable is and he has never had a playtime. He has never been in a classroom and can’t yet read.

Pedro’s parents are no longer together and neither has been able to raise Pedro because of their addictions to drugs.

Pedro is raised by his stepmother and step-grandfather. He appears to be a very lonely and sad child.

Pedro has expressed to us an interest in learning the guitar. He says that when he listens to music, he forgets all his problems.

For the last year and a half Pedro has participated in our online classes using his neighbor’s wifi. When Pedro came to collect this food package, his stepmother told us that the University of Life feels like a place of joy and peace.

Pedro needs community. We hope that The University of Life will be a family of caring teachers and friends to support him as he comes to school for the very first time.